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| Taliban Say Talks Over U.S. Soldier’s Release Suspended | Taliban Say Talks Over U.S. Soldier’s Release Suspended |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban confirmed publicly on Sunday that they had been in talks with the United States over the release of an American soldier, but said the talks had now been suspended. | KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban confirmed publicly on Sunday that they had been in talks with the United States over the release of an American soldier, but said the talks had now been suspended. |
| In an unrelated development, at least 19 Afghan soldiers were killed in an ambush Sunday by insurgents in eastern Kunar Province. | In an unrelated development, at least 19 Afghan soldiers were killed in an ambush Sunday by insurgents in eastern Kunar Province. |
| The unusual Taliban statement, which was emailed to journalists, said the talks had taken place “recently” with the mediation of Qatar, suggesting that meetings had taken place in Qatar, where the Taliban have an unofficial political office. | |
| The talks had been rumored, but this is the first time the insurgents have publicly confirmed them. They are aimed at reviving a longstanding offer by the American government to release Taliban prisoners from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, into custody in Qatar, in exchange for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl of the United States Army, the only American being held by insurgents in Afghanistan. | |
| The Taliban statement said that they had provided the Americans with a video of Sergeant Bergdahl to prove that he was still alive and in their custody. | The Taliban statement said that they had provided the Americans with a video of Sergeant Bergdahl to prove that he was still alive and in their custody. |
| It said the insurgents and the Americans had made some progress in their talks through an unnamed mediator, but then they broke off. “Due to the current complicated political situation in the country,” the Taliban statement concluded, “the leadership of the Islamic Emirate decided to suspend talks over this issue for the time being.” | It said the insurgents and the Americans had made some progress in their talks through an unnamed mediator, but then they broke off. “Due to the current complicated political situation in the country,” the Taliban statement concluded, “the leadership of the Islamic Emirate decided to suspend talks over this issue for the time being.” |
| The wording made it clear that the Taliban were leaving a door open to resuming the talks at some point. | The wording made it clear that the Taliban were leaving a door open to resuming the talks at some point. |
| The statement was signed by the insurgents’ spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid. Reached by telephone, Mr. Mujahid refused to elaborate on the statement or to explain what the complicated political situation referred to. He said the talks had taken place “within the last two months.” | The statement was signed by the insurgents’ spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid. Reached by telephone, Mr. Mujahid refused to elaborate on the statement or to explain what the complicated political situation referred to. He said the talks had taken place “within the last two months.” |
| Afghanistan is holding presidential elections April 5, and President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign a bilateral security agreement with the United States that would provide for a long-term Western military presence after the end of this year. | Afghanistan is holding presidential elections April 5, and President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign a bilateral security agreement with the United States that would provide for a long-term Western military presence after the end of this year. |
| Mr. Mujahid confirmed that the talks were about the exchange of Sergeant Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners in Guantánamo. “The video of the soldier was sent by us to the family and friends of the soldier as requested by his family,” Mr. Mujahid said by telephone. “The video was handed over during the talks.” | Mr. Mujahid confirmed that the talks were about the exchange of Sergeant Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners in Guantánamo. “The video of the soldier was sent by us to the family and friends of the soldier as requested by his family,” Mr. Mujahid said by telephone. “The video was handed over during the talks.” |
| In the Kunar attack, meanwhile, Afghan officials said the insurgents overran an Afghan National Army outpost in Ghaziabad district of Kunar Province, killing soldiers while they slept. The Kunar governor, Shuja al Mulk Jalala, put the death toll at 20 soldiers, with eight others abducted. Gen. Zaher Azimi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said on Twitter that 19 soldiers were killed and two wounded. | |
| It was believed to be the worst single loss of life by Afghan forces this year. A similar attack in Kunar Province last year, in Nari district, killed 13 Afghan soldiers, who were also attacked while they slept. | It was believed to be the worst single loss of life by Afghan forces this year. A similar attack in Kunar Province last year, in Nari district, killed 13 Afghan soldiers, who were also attacked while they slept. |
| Governor Jalala said he believed the insurgents might have had infiltrators inside the soldiers’ post. | Governor Jalala said he believed the insurgents might have had infiltrators inside the soldiers’ post. |