WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed Sunday that US officials were involved in preliminary talks with the Taliban to seek a political solution to the Afghan war but said he didn't expect significant progress for months. Gates also said recent gains on the ground in Afghanistan meant President Barack Obama would have “a lot of room for maneuver” when deciding how many troops to withdraw as he begins a limited US drawdown next month. Almost a decade into the Afghan conflict, the American public has grown increasingly war-weary and the killing of Osama Bin Laden and other leading Al-Qaeda figures in recent months is fueling calls for a rapid pullout. Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Saturday that the United States was holding talks with the Taliban. “I think there's been outreach on the part of a number of countries, including the United States,” Gates confirmed to CNN, adding that the contact has been going on for “a few weeks maybe.” “I would say that these contacts are very preliminary at this point,” he said, stressing it was crucial to determine “who really represents the Taliban” before jumping into talks with parties claiming to represent leader Mullah Omar. “My own view is that real reconciliation talks are not likely to be able to make any substantive headway until at least this winter. I think that the Taliban have to feel themselves under military pressure, and begin to believe that they can't win before they're willing to have a serious conversation.” The Taliban, driven from power in Afghanistan when US and British troops invaded following the Al-Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, have consistently rejected in public statements any willingness to negotiate. Although diplomats and officials say talks are at a very early stage, they highlight a growing focus on trying to find a political solution as foreign combat troops prepare to pull out —under the current timetable by 2014.
