Top US general in Afghanistan backs 'political solution'

The top US commander in Afghanistan said Thursday he backed a "political solution" to the country's dragging conflict with Taliban-led extremists.
It was up to the government to decide with whom it wanted to reconcile and how, General David McKiernan told AFP on the sidelines of a change-of-command ceremony at the main Nato force base in the western province of Herat.
"But I do believe that ultimately the solution here in this country will be a political solution and not a military one," the general said.
"So it would be my hope that people lay down their weapons and support the legitimate government of Afghanistan in the future."
The possibility of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban has come under the spotlight this week after media reports that the two sides met in Saudi Arabia last month.
Afghan officials have insisted that no Taliban -- only former members of the movement -- were at the meeting.
President Hamid Karzai has offered to talk to Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar who is on a US "most wanted" list, provided he accepts the post-Taliban set-up.
Taliban have said a condition for their involvement in talks would be the withdrawal of foreign troops.
McKiernan said the international troops in Afghanistan would only stay in the country as long as the government wanted them here and until the Afghan army and police were capable of taking charge of security.
"We don't want to be here in your country any longer than it takes to develop your own security capabilities," he said.
More US troops were meanwhile headed to western Afghanistan to train up the Afghan forces so they could tackle its "security challenges" which involved not only Taliban but also criminals and drugs traffickers, he said.