Azerbaijan, Kabul, 13 October / corr Trend A.Hakimi / The United States want to reduce dependence on government by arming militias.
The United States plans to arm tribal militias against the Taliban, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at a NATO summit in Hungary.
As part of a plan to create greater co-operation on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border, the US wants to train tribal militias in an attempt to reduce its dependence on the central government in Kabul.
Parliament members had already suggested arming the tribes, but the idea was not given any currency at the time.
Gates also said the US would welcome talks with the Taliban that attempted to put an end to the on-going violence in the country.
He said the US would support the Afghan government if it decided to pursue peace-talks with the militant group.
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