The United States announced Thursday a pause in talks with the Taliban after an attack near a U.S. airbase in Afghanistan. "When I met the Talibs today, I expressed outrage about yesterday's attack on Bagram, which recklessly killed two and wounded dozens of civilians," U.S. special representative for Afghanistan peace talks Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter.

Axar.az reports citing CGTN that the Taliban must show they are willing & able to respond to Afghan desire for peace," he tweeted. 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.

It came despite the resumption of talks between the U.S. 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 U.S. troops from Afghanistan.