Afghanistan’s president, angered by a U.S. soldier’s alleged killings of 16 civilians, demanded Thursday that international troops pull out of villages and rural areas to main bases and let Afghan forces take the lead for countrywide security in 2013, a year ahead of schedule.

In another major blow to the U.S. campaign in Afghanistan, the Taliban militant group said at the same time that it was breaking off talks with the United States, claiming the U.S. kept changing the terms of negotiations…

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said the insurgent group wanted to limit talks to prisoner transfers and the establishment of a political office in Qatar, but U.S. negotiators wanted to broaden the discussion.

The Taliban did not want the Afghan government included in the talks, he said.

“Because of these American changes, the Taliban was obliged to stop the talks,” Mujahid said.