Plans to engage the Taliban in talks have gathered pace, with Afghanistan inviting¹ members to a peace council and reports of a secret UN meeting.

阿富汗邀请成员参加和平理事会以及一个联合国秘密会议的报道，显示与塔利班进行和平谈判的计划取得初步进展。

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Some Taliban militants are reportedly tired of fighting

At a key Afghanistan summit in London, President Hamid Karzai vowed³ to reach out to接触，联系 "disenchanted brothers".

A UN official told news agencies special envoy⁴ Kai Eide had met Taliban members in Dubai on 8 January after they had asked for talks.

Mr Eide denied meeting on that date but refused to comment on other dates.

The one-day conference in London saw world leaders pledge $140m (£87m) to win over low-level Taliban fighters.

Delegates also said that Afghan forces could take control of security in some provinces by the end of 2010 and that the process could be complete in five years.

'Talks about talks'

At the summit, Mr Karzai again urged the Taliban to renounce⁵放弃 violence.

"We must reach out to all of our countrymen, especially our disenchanted不再着迷的，不再报幻想的 brothers, who are not part of al-Qaeda, or other terrorist networks, who accept the Afghan constitution," he told delegates.

He invited moderate适度的，中等的 Taliban to a peace summit.

The UN official, who would not be named, told news agencies that Mr Eide had met members of Taliban's Quetta Shura - senior commanders known to be based in the southern Pakistani city.

"They requested a meeting to talk about talks. They want protection, to be able to come out in public," the official was quoted as saying by Reuters路透社.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Eide, the UN Special Representative, categorically denied any talks took place on 8 January, saying he was only in Dubai for several hours - in transit在途中 en route to在途中 Kabul.

As for other dates, Mr Eide said he never commented on reports like this, whether true or false.

Taliban spokesmen have repeatedly said they have no interest in talking to Mr Karzai's government.

The BBC's Lyse Doucet says that, if true, this report of secret talks would be a significant development.