Are There Back Channel Talks Between the Afghan Government And The Taliban?

HILLSIDE SCAN - U.S. Army 1st Lt. David J. Leydet uses his rifle's scope to scan a hill while he provides security outside an Afghan police checkpoint in Taktehpol, Afghanistan, March 10, 2010. Leydet is assigned to Troop B, 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Francisco V. Govea II

Aide: Karzai 'Very Angry' At Taliban Boss' Arrest -- Washington Post/AP

KABUL -- The Afghan government was holding secret talks with the Taliban's No. 2 when he was captured in Pakistan, and the arrest infuriated President Hamid Karzai, according to one of Karzai's advisers.

The detention of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar - second in the Taliban only to one-eyed Mullah Mohammed Omar - has raised new questions about whether the U.S. is willing to back peace discussions with leaders who harbored the terrorists behind the Sept. 11 attacks.

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More News On Afghan - Taliban Peace Talks

Aide: Karzai 'very angry' at Taliban boss' arrest -- AP
Afghanistan Held Secret Talks With Captured Taliban Chief -- Huffington Post
Ex-Pakistan spy chief urges talks with Omar -- CNN
U.S. urged to talk to Taliban leader -- UPI
Britain to Hamid Karzai: start Afghanistan peace talks now -- The Guardian
U.N. set for more discreet talks with Taliban: envoys -- Reuters