US: Talks with Taliban without al-Qaida ties are possible

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The United States supports reconciliation talks with Taliban fighters who have no ties to al-Qaida and accept Afghanistan's constitution, the US ambassador said Thursday. William Wood said the US is in favor of a "serious reconciliation program with those elements of the Taliban who are prepared to accept the constitution and the authority of the elected government," of President Hamid Karzai. "The only place where we have concern would be the members of the Taliban with close connection to al-Qaida, the reason being that al-Qaida is an international threat," he said.