The White House is denying reports that U.S. and Afghan Taliban officials will hold talks in Qatar.
Bernadette Meehan, a National Security Council spokeswoman, said Washington supported an "Afghan-led reconciliation process" involving the Taliban, but that no meetings between the Taliban and the United States are scheduled.
Senior Pakistani Army and diplomatic officials earlier said the Afghan Taliban had indicated they were willing to start peace talks with U.S. officials in Qatar as early as February 19.
A Pakistani military official said army chief of staff Raheel Sharif told Afghan President Ashraf Ghani this week during a visit to Kabul that the Taliban was willing to begin negotiations in March.
There have been several unsuccessful attempts in recent years for talks between U.S. and Taliban officials aimed at ending the 13-year conflict in Afghanistan.
