Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that his government and the United States are engaged in peace talks with the Taliban to end the conflict in the war-torn country. Addressing a conference in Kabul yesterday, he said, peace talks are going on with the Taliban. Western officials in Kabul say the contacts with the Taliban are at a very early stage and efforts are being made to establish a communication channel with Taliban leadership. This is the first official confirmation that the US and Afghan government are holding discussions with the Taliban. The Obama administration neither directly confirmed nor denied Mr Karzai's statement. State Department Spokesman Mark Toner said the US has consistently supported an Afghan-led peace process. An official at the US embassy in Kabul said, we must help create conditions necessary to enable a political settlement among the Afghan people. This includes reconciling those insurgents who are willing to renounce al Qaeda, forsake violence and adhere to the Afghan constitution.