Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated on Wednesday, however, that Taleban leaders must first renounce the use of violence and their support for Al-Qaeda and must pledge to respect Afghan law.

However, Gibbs declined to discuss a Washington Post report that President Hamid Karzai’s government has made contact with senior officials of the Afghan Taleban organization based in Pakistan, who represent its leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Gibbs said Obama has long supported a reconciliation process, but it is up to Afghan leaders to decide whom to talk with.

The Washington Post, citing Afghan and Arab sources, reported on Tuesday on representatives of the Taleban and President Hamid Karzai’s government have started secret talks to negotiate an end to the war in Afghanistan.

The sources, who were not named by the Post, were quoted as saying they believe the Taleban representatives are authorized to speak for the Quetta Shura, the Afghan Taleban organization based in Pakistan, and its leader, Mohammad Omar.

The sources quoted by the Post stressed that the current discussions are in the preliminary stages. Karzai’s spokesman Waheed Omer, speaking in Kabul, declined to confirm or deny the report of new meetings.

“There were contacts in the past and may now be direct or indirect ones. There have been regular contacts over the past two years,” he said, when asked about the Washington Post story.

“There haven’t been any substantive talks, there have been contacts only.”