US: Will do 'whatever it takes' on Afghan talks

The United States will do "whatever it takes" to support Afghan President Hamid Karzai's push to reconcile with some elements of the Taliban, but acknowledges that it is a complex effort which may not work, top US officials said on Thursday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made the comments at a news conference in Brussels, where NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also said the military alliance was ready to facilitate reconciliation outreach. (Reuters)