Jonathan Powell, in an interview with The Guardian, said he discovered that a secret line of communication opened with the IRA in the 1970s contributed to successful peace negotiations in Northern Ireland 30 years later.

"There's nothing to say to al-Qaida and they've got nothing to say to us at the moment, but at some stage you're going to have to come to a political solution as well as a security solution," Powell said. "And that means you need the ability to talk."

Powell was Blair's chief of staff from 1995 to 1997 and the most senior of his aides to remain at 10 Downing Street throughout his term as prime minister. His book, "Great Hatred, Little Room," is about to be released.

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office told The Guardian that the government has nothing to say to al-Qaida. The British did have a channel to Hamas but now takes the position that the group must recognize Israel and give up violence.