US confirms three-way talks with Taliban
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E-mail Xinhua, February 17, 2012
The Untied States confirmed Thursday it has participated in three-way talks with the Afghan government and Taliban, according to the White House.
White House Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the U.S. side "supported an Afghan-led process of reconciliation," and "we are obviously part of this process that is Afghan-led."
In an interview published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said talks among the U.S., the Afghan government and the Taliban had taken place in the past month. However, a Taliban spokesman denied that such three-way talks had taken place later.
While refusing to give more details, Carney said "almost all insurgencies come to an end through a political settlement. We believe that an end to the conflict in Afghanistan will come when there is a reconciliation."
Speaking on board the Air Force One, he also said the U.S. side insist any Taliban who wants to participate in the process "would have to renounce al-Qaeda, lay down their arms, renounce violence, and pledge allegiance to the Afghan Constitution, and its requirement that the rights of minorities and women are respected. "
On the same day, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta also said Karzai's statement confirms that "Afghanistan is now very much involved" in efforts to find a political settlement with the Taliban.
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