US confirms talks with Taliban

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that US officials were involved in preliminary talks with 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 US 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 on 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. The Taliban have consistently rejected in public statements any willingness to negotiate. On Friday, the UN Security Council split the international sanctions regime for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in a bid to encourage the Taliban to join reconciliation efforts. The action sends "a clear message to the Taliban that there is a future for those who separate from Al-Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by the Afghan constitution," said US envoy to the UN Susan Rice.