The United States said it supports Afghan President Hamid Karzai s vist to Doha aimed at possible talks with Taliban insurgents on violence in Afghanistan.

"We were supportive of President Karzai s visit to Doha to strengthen the cooperation between the Afghan government and the government of Qatar to prepare for the prospect of Afghan-Afghan talks there on the Afghan side under the auspices of the High Peace Council," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a press briefing.

"That is a separate issue than whether the Taliban chooses to avail itself of this opportunity. It knows very clearly what it has to do, and the ball is in its court, if it wants to see this office opened," she added.

Karzai held talks with Qatari leaders on Sunday on a visit the Kabul government has said would seek to explore the possibility of talks with Taliban insurgents on ending Afghanistan s war. This follows years of stalled discussions among the United States, Pakistan and the Taliban about a possible Afghan settlement.