Afghan Taliban denies any peace talks with NATO

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan, Aug 25 (Reuters) The Taliban today denied secretly talking with the Afghan government and NATO to lay down their arms in the volatile south, rejecting such reports as propaganda by weakened foreign forces.

The guerrillas' military commander, Mullah Dadullah, told Reuters by satellite phone NATO and US-led forces were trying to sow dissent among Taliban fighters and supporters.

''We have adopted the path of jihad and people are joining us in jihad,'' he said, adding foreign forces were pulling out of areas that have seen heavy fighting, especially in the Taliban's southern heartland, because they did not have the will to sustain heavy losses.

NATO has also denied direct involvement in any talks with the Taliban in southern Kandahar province, which foreign media reports said were led by a government-backed mediation agency as part of the authorities' reconciliation efforts with the Taliban.

NATO troops were involved in the talks, the reports said.

Asked about the issue yesterday, US Major-General Robert Durbin told reporters in Kabul only that the coalition and NATO supported President Hamid Karzai's efforts for reconciliation.

NATO troops have run into heavier than expected opposition from the Taliban in the run-up to and after their July 31 takeover from US forces in the south.

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