Karzai warns US against Taliban talks

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has warned the US against holding direct talks with the Taliban members in his violence wracked country. Karzai on Sunday in an interview objected to the strategy of having US military commanders in Afghanistan conduct direct talks with the insurgents. "If you want to accomplish a local deal with a certain Taliban commander at a tactical level, good enough," Karzai told CNN. However, he warned that such talks will not produce tangible results until the Afghan national government is taken to confidence in this regard. "But even that has to be done in agreement with the Afghan administration (government) at the local, provincial level." the president noted. The remarks come after US commanders stationed in Afghanistan persuaded some elements within the Taliban to abandon their armed struggle in return for power-sharing. The differences between Washington and Karzai have emerged over a range of issues since some last months. Civilian casualties are the greatest source of tension between Karzai and the US. Karzai has repeatedly lashed out at the foreign regiment because of their disregard to civilians' life and local culture. Karzai has ruled the war-torn nation since the Taliban's ouster. The US has said that it will not back him in the upcoming poll. Washington's U-turn in dealing with extremists in Afghanistan comes seven and half years after it allegedly invaded the country to destroy Taliban, capture Osama bin Laden and to bring security to the volatile region.