Clinton backs reconciliation with moderate Taliban

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged fellow leaders at the Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague to offer some "form of reconciliation" to Taliban militants who renounce violence and break with al Qaeda.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton backed reconciliation with Taliban members who abandon extremism, during a conference on Afghanistan in The Hague. "We must ... support efforts by the government of Afghanistan to separate the extremists of al Qaeda and the Taliban from those who joined their ranks not out of conviction, but out of desperation," Clinton said on Tuesday."They (Taliban members) should be offered an honourable form of reconciliation and reintegration into a peaceful society, if they are willing to abandon violence, break with al Qaeda, and support the constitution," she added.Representatives from nearly 70 countries, including Iran, are attending the UN-backed conference in a bid to boost reconstruction efforts and tackle the Islamist insurgency in the strife-ridden country.This is the first international meeting since US President Barack Obama unveiled policy changes for Kabul. Since taking office in January, Obama has ordered 17,000 extra troops to Afghanistan to tackle the violence, and a further 4,000 to help train the army, along with hundreds of civilians to improve basic services.“Afghans know about the new American strategy in the region,” reports FRANCE 24’s Claire Billet in Kabul. “Obama spoke about an economic and political solution and that’s been appreciated,” she added.After talks with fellow NATO leaders in Brussels earlier this month, US Vice-President Joe Biden said it would be "worth exploring" possible talks with Taliban moderates as part of a change of strategy in Afghanistan.