Gates: Reconciliation With Taliban Possible, But Not With Al-Qaeda

October 9, 2008 11:40 p.m. EST

Budapest, Hungary (AHN) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that political reconciliation with the Taliban is possible to stop the war in Afghanistan but that Washington will not hold talks with the terror group al-Qaeda.

Gates, however, told reporters after meeting with NATO ministers in Hungary that reconciliation with the Islamic insurgents must be in accordance with the Afghan government's terms. The defense chief noted that the U.S. used reconciliatory tactic with Iraqi insurgents enabling a degree of cooperation between Sunni militants and U.S. troops in battling al-Qaeda elements.

The agenda of Gates' meeting with NATO ministers was not about the reconciliation. They discussed a proposal for coalition troops to stop Afghan drug lords from funding Taliban insurgents.