The Afghan Taliban movement has denied reports of its readiness to meet US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad, and at the same time reiterated the refusal to talk directly with the Afghan government.
"We want to make it clear that we are not holding any meeting with Zalmay Khalilzad in Islamabad," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.
The denials came after Pakistani newspapers and television stations said a meeting with the Taliban was expected in Islamabad, following talks between Khalilzad and Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday.
Talks between the two sides stalled after the Taliban accused Khalilzad of deviating from the agreed agenda and it was not clear when the talks would resume.
Senior Taliban leaders said regional powers, including Pakistan, contacted them and wanted them to meet with the US delegation in Islamabad and accept the Afghan government's accession to the peace process, but the methods were rejected.
"We made it clear time and time again that we will not hold any meeting with the Afghan government because we know they are unable to meet our demands," a senior Taliban commander was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
dilemma
Al-Jazeera correspondent in Islamabad Abdul Rahman Matar said that the talks between the Taliban and the American side are facing a dilemma at the moment, as the movement insists on direct negotiations with the United States only to consider a specific agenda and refuses to join the Afghan government to negotiations.
The Taliban are resisting calls from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to persuade them to negotiate with the Afghan government, the correspondent said.
The Taliban have agreed to engage in direct negotiations with the United States to discuss three key issues - the full US and international withdrawal from Afghan territory, the release of prisoners and allowing Taliban leaders to move freely inside and outside Afghanistan.
A Taliban delegation held talks with US officials in Abu Dhabi last month. Pakistani media have said Pakistan has agreed to host the next round of talks between the group and the US side in Islamabad.
"The two sides reviewed the developments after Abu Dhabi talks to push forward the Afghan peace process," a foreign ministry statement said after a meeting between US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Pakistani officials.