Afghan Government Weighing Talks With Former Top Taliban Official

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The Afghan government might hold talks with a former top Taliban official, but only if it determines he has no complicity in terrorism or crimes against the Afghan people, the president's spokesman said Thursday.

Former Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil Mutawakil recently offered to assist President Hamid Karzai's government in quelling tension inside the country in exchange for his freedom from U.S. custody.

Karzai recently said he welcomed members of the Taliban rank-and-file not responsible for the hard-line movement's actions, presidential spokesman Jawid Luddin said.

Some responses came from Afghans in Pakistan who say they are resisting pressure to return home to fight foreign troops and Karzai's central government.

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