The US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan on Sunday confirmed a meeting with the Haqqani insurgent group, as signs of a dialogue between the United States and rebels continue to grow.
"We had one meeting with Haqqani network," Marc Grossman told a news conference in Kabul.
His remarks come after US and the Taliban militants confirmed preliminary talks for opening an liaison office for the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha - increasing speculation of an end to the decade-long bloody insurgency in this war-torn country.
"I think, from the Afghan prospective anyway, this is an inclusive process but we will have to see what turns out," Grossman said.
"I am looking forward to the Taliban being clear about breaking ties with international terrorism, denouncing it, distancing them salves from it."
Grossman however did not say when and where the meeting with the Haqqani network took place.
President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that he personally held a meeting with another insurgent faction, Hezb-i-Islami, recently.