U.S. talking to Taliban?

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Washington officials reportedly held secret negotiations with top Taliban and other militant commanders from Afghanistan, sources say.

A counterinsurgency strategy published by the British Ministry of Defense outlines the way forward for Afghanistan, saying negotiating with elements of the Taliban as part of a reconciliation strategy is not necessarily a sign of weakness.

Washington, for its part, links Pakistani security to its broader fight against al-Qaida and Taliban militants in its military engagement in Afghanistan.

Anonymous sources told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper that U.S. officials have met with high-ranking militants in their deliberations on the Afghan strategy.

Militant leaders approached by U.S. officials include Adullah Anus, which Dawn identifies as the son-in-law of Abdullah Azzam, a jihadist ideologue and mentor to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

The report says a second round of negotiations was scheduled to take place after Eid al-Adha celebrations, which conclude Nov. 30.

The Dawn report follows a visit to Pakistan by CIA Director Leon Panetta and Gen. James Jones, the U.S. national security adviser.