U.S. cool to Karzai pitch for engaging top Taliban figures in Afghanistan

Karzai told a gathering of officials from about 70 countries and international groups -- assembled to discuss efforts to wind down the war -- that he is seeking the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the blessing of Pakistan to try to negotiate peace with the leaders of the militants that his government drove from power a little over eight years ago.

The idea did not receive a warm reception from the United States.

Karzai said he will convene a "grand peace jirga" of prominent Afghans in the next few weeks to debate and lend legitimacy to the peace effort.

"We must reach out to all of our countrymen, especially our disenchanted brothers who are not part of Al Qaeda or other terrorist networks [and] who accept the Afghan Constitution," Karzai told officials of about 70 countries and international groups.

However, the idea of making peace with an opponent that has killed well above 1,000 Western troops remains highly sensitive with Americans and other countries that have sent forces, and Karzai's initiative is a delicate issue with the Obama administration.


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