BBC News with Jonathan Wheatley

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he's formed a national peace council to pursue negotiations with the Taliban. Mr Karzai's office described it as a significant step towards peace talks. His chief of staff, Mohammad Omar Daudzai, told the BBC that significant elements of the Taliban had indicated their willingness to negotiate.

"Soon after the peace jirga, we have noticed some momentum within a certain degree of leadership of their position and also within the foot soldiers. Significant level of leadership has been indicating their willingness to talk. Of course they have their conditions for talking for peace, but their willingness to talk is there."