*WASHINGTON – *Washington still hopes to “bring the Taliban to thenegotiating table” in Afghanistan, a senior State Department official saidTuesday, even though President Donald Trump had ruled out such talks anytime soon.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan, returning from a trip to Kabul,told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that all Afghan leaders”reiterated their support for our strategy,” and pledged to create “theconditions that will bring the Taliban to the negotiation table.”

“We hope the Pakistanis will also help to convince the Taliban to enter apeace process,” he said.

Mr Trump had left the door open to negotiations when he presented hisAfghanistan strategy in August.

But following January’s Kabul attack that left more than 100 people dead herejected the notion of peace talks with the militant group.

“We don’t want to talk with the Taliban,” Mr Trump said. “They are killingpeople left and right, innocent people.”

He added: “There may be a time but it’s going to be a long time.”

Pressed by Democratic senators on this apparent contradiction, Mr Sullivanappeared to draw a distinction between moderate and extreme factions of thegroup.

“What President Trump was expressing was a reaction to the horribleterrorist activities last month in Kabul,” he said. “Significant elementsof the Taliban are not prepared to negotiate and it may take a long timebefore they are willing to negotiate.”

But some factions do have a place at the table, Mr Sullivan said, addingthat Afghan leaders agree. – AFP