USA vurderer å delta i samtaler mellom den afghanske regjering og Taliban-ledere på lavere nivå, i håp om å få dem til å innstille krigen og heller delta i styringen av samfunnet. USA utelukker samtaler med de øverste lederne, som mullah Omar.

David Petreaus, som overtar ansvaret for Pakistan og Afghanistan denne uken, skal være innstilt på å prøve noe tilsvarende sunni-militsene i Irak.

A classified White House review of strategy says American negotiators should participate in discussions between the Afghan central government and junior and midlevel Taliban commanders.

The policy would mark a major change in direction seven years after US forces toppled the Islamic extremist regime for refusing to hand over al-Qaeda terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks.

Afghanistan has faced its worst violence since 2001 and a recent Washington intelligence assessment concluded the country is in a «downward spiral», prompting calls to rethink strategy.

Until now, while US officials have supported President Hamid Karzai’s attempts to reach out to «reconcilable» Taliban, they themselves have stressed they would not negotiate with terrorists.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the recommendation has the influential backing of General David Petraeus, who this week assumes responsibility for US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He is credited with stabilising Iraq after years of chaotic bloodshed by persuading previously hostile Sunni tribes to join the fight against al-Qaeda and improve local security. Talks with the Taliban could pave the way for a similar strategy in Afghanistan.

US officials are already considering training or arming tribal militias in turbulent provinces to root out foreign fighters and extremists.

Senior White House and military officials are said to believe talking to some moderate Taliban elements, while excluding their leaders, could stem violence which has killed more than 220 foreign soldiers this year.

US considers talks with Taliban to halt Afghanistan bloodshed