Retired Brigadier Sultan Tarar, known as Colonel Imam, said Mullah Omar was open to talks. He said if a sincere message came to him from the Americans, it will be heard.

“If a sincere message comes from the Americans, these people (the Taliban) are very big-hearted. They will listen. But if you try to divide the Taliban, you’ll fail. Anyone who leaves Mullah Omar is no more Taliban. Such people are just trying to deceive,” said Tarar, in an interview with McClatchy Newspapers.

His comments come as the United States and its allies seem increasingly restless to find a path toward a political solution to the war in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, US national security adviser James Jones said that the Obama administration is “pursuing a general strategy of engagement.”

“We’ll see where this takes us,” Jones said.