The Taleban on Friday denied secretly talking with the Afghan government and Nat to lay down their arms in the volatile south, rejecting such reports as propaganda by weakened foreign forces.
The guerrillas' military commander, Mullah Dadullah, told Reuters by satellite phone Nato and US-led forces were trying to sow dissent among Taleban fighters and supporters.
"We have adopted the path of jihad and people are joining us in jihad," he said, adding foreign forces were pulling out of areas that have seen heavy fighting, especially in the Taliban's southern heartland, because they did not have the will to sustain heavy losses.
Nato has also denied direct involvement in any talks with the Taleban in southern Kandahar province, which foreign media reports said were led by a government-backed mediation agency as part of the authorities' reconciliation efforts with the Taleban. Nato troops were involved in the talks, the reports said.