In a setback within 24 hours of what was touted as a breakthrough amid great fanfare, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has announced that his Government will boycott the US-led peace talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.
Peeved over the US announcement that it would hold initial talks directly with the Taliban and bring in Karzai Government subsequently, Karzai also suspended security talks with Washington over the residual American presence after the withdrawal of forces next year.
Making it clear that any reconciliation talks must be Afghan-led, Karzai attacked the US for its contradictions and going back on guarantees given by it in respect of this whole process.