The Taliban has rejected Afghanistan's proposal to hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia next month, Reuters reported Sunday.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the militant group would not talk to Afghan representatives, but would meet with U.S. officials in January.

Taliban representatives have indicated throughout the negotiation process that they do not intend to broker a deal with Afghanistan, arguing that the U.S. is the main force in the country.

The U.S. has been involved in peace talks for months, but has insisted that any deal must be led by Afghan officials.

ADVERTISEMENT

U.S. special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is representing the U.S. in negotiations to end the 17-year war, said last month that the sides were not able to come to an agreement "on any issue," and that the Taliban had rejected a deadline of April 2019 for ending the war in Afghanistan.

President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE has reportedly indicated he plans to ramp down U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, though a spokesman for the National Security Council said Saturday that the president has not made a final determination.

Trump has attracted criticism from lawmakers in both parties over his decision to pull U.S. forces out of Syria, with those opposing the move warning it could destabilize the region. Some lawmakers praised the decision, arguing the U.S. had no strategy in the country.