Afghanistan's foreign minister on Sunday denied reports that the government was in contact with Taliban insurgents to negotiate an end to the conflict. Britain's Observer newspaper on Sunday said the "unprecedented talks" involved a senior ex-Taliban member travelling between Kabul, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and European capitals. "I cannot say anything about the matter that talks between the Taliban and Afghans ... are going on," Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told a news conference when asked to comment about the report. "I deny there is any contact between the Foreign Ministry and the Taliban about the negotiations," he said when asked for elaboration. "I do not confirm such contacts," he said when pressed if any other government organ was involved in any such process. After the news conference he said with a smile he would have news on this in coming days. The report came as the Taliban have extended the scope and size of their insurgency this year, the bloodiest period since US-led and Afghan forces invaded in 2001.
Western leaders and diplomats stress the war in Afghanistan, where more than 71,000 foreign troops are based, cannot be won militarily. But talks with the Taliban had proven problematic.