Taliban rules out peace talks: Why should we quit when you're leaving?

The statement, released to the BBC’s John Simpson, said: ‘We do not want to talk to anyone – not to [President Hamid] Karzai, nor to any foreigners – till the foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

‘We are certain that we are winning. Why should we talk if we have the upper hand, and the foreign troops are considering withdrawal, and there are differences in the ranks of our enemies?’

It comes as Nato forces suffered their biggest loss in the country so far, with 102 deaths in the month of June.