<p class="title">The United States announced Thursday a pause in talks with the Taliban after an attack near a US airbase in Afghanistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When I met the Talibs today, I expressed outrage about yesterday's attack on Bagram, which recklessly killed two and wounded dozens of civilians," US special representative for Afghanistan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"#Taliban must show they are willing & able to respond to Afghan desire for peace," he tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wednesday's early morning assault, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility, began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed vehicle outside a hospital building near Bagram military base in Parwan province, north of the capital Kabul, according to local officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It came despite the resumption of talks between the US and the insurgent group just days before in Qatar, as the parties look for a path to reduce violence or even reach a cease-fire, allowing a gradual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Negotiations began earlier this year, though US President Donald Trump unexpectedly suspended talks in September just as the parties were about to reach an agreement, citing a fatal attack in Kabul, in which an American soldier was killed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He announced last month they would start up again, insisting on the need for a cease-fire.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Trump made a surprise visit to Bagram on November 28 to celebrate Thanksgiving with his troops and meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to September's draft agreement, the Taliban would be required to commit to certain security measures, agree to talks with the Afghan government and promise a reduction of violence in exchange for US troop withdrawal.</p>
<p class="title">The United States announced Thursday a pause in talks with the Taliban after an attack near a US airbase in Afghanistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"When I met the Talibs today, I expressed outrage about yesterday's attack on Bagram, which recklessly killed two and wounded dozens of civilians," US special representative for Afghanistan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"#Taliban must show they are willing & able to respond to Afghan desire for peace," he tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Wednesday's early morning assault, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility, began when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-packed vehicle outside a hospital building near Bagram military base in Parwan province, north of the capital Kabul, according to local officials.</p>.<p class="bodytext">It came despite the resumption of talks between the US and the insurgent group just days before in Qatar, as the parties look for a path to reduce violence or even reach a cease-fire, allowing a gradual withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Negotiations began earlier this year, though US President Donald Trump unexpectedly suspended talks in September just as the parties were about to reach an agreement, citing a fatal attack in Kabul, in which an American soldier was killed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He announced last month they would start up again, insisting on the need for a cease-fire.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Trump made a surprise visit to Bagram on November 28 to celebrate Thanksgiving with his troops and meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.</p>.<p class="bodytext">According to September's draft agreement, the Taliban would be required to commit to certain security measures, agree to talks with the Afghan government and promise a reduction of violence in exchange for US troop withdrawal.</p>