KABUL: An Afghan Taliban spokesman on Wednesday dismissed the outcome of a conference in London between the leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Britain which aimed to work towards a peace deal within six months.

The conference and other “horse trading” were “the real obstacles of effective and fruitful negotiations between the factual sides,” Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on the Taliban’s website.

Following talks hosted by Britain, Afghan, Pakistani and British leaders on Monday had vowed to achieve a peace settlement for Afghanistan within six months.

The three leaders also said they supported the opening of an office in Qatar for the Afghan Taliban to hold talks.

“President Karzai, president Zardari and the prime minister affirmed that they supported the opening of an office in Doha for the purpose of negotiations between the Taliban and the High Peace Council of Afghanistan as part of an Afghan-led peace process,” a joint statement had said following the trilateral summit Monday.