The White House says U.S. President Barack Obama has spoken with his Afghan counterpart to discuss regional support for moves toward Afghan reconciliation.
Obama also discussed Afghan President Hamid Karzai's talks with the leaders of Pakistan and Iran last week in Islamabad.
The White House said in a statement that the two leaders "agreed to speak again soon to remain closely aligned as both countries continue their efforts to achieve common goals and work to forge a long-term partnership."
The telephone conversation also followed the Afghan president's assertion in a newspaper interview last week that his government was involved in talks with the Taliban, both with and without the United States.
Compiled from agency reports