Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been holding secret talks with Taliban officials in an effort to bridge peace with his government, The New York Times reported late Monday.
Western and Afghan officials told the Times the meetings appear to help explain recent moves that have strained relations with the United States.
{mosads}Over the last few months, Karzai has refused to sign a long-term security agreement with the U.S., which would outline how the American military’s residual forces might stay in the country after 2014.
Karzai has also threatened negotiations by releasing several dozen Taliban militants from a prison in Afghanistan late last month.
Officials told the Times, however, nothing has resulted yet from Karzai’s discussions with the Taliban.
President Obama, meanwhile, is scheduled to meet with senior military commanders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the future of the U.S. operation in Afghanistan.