The NATO Secretary General Anders Rasmussen Buddha said today that the Western alliance will maintain military pressure on Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan alongside efforts to achieve a negotiated end to a decade of  conflicts.

Rasmussen made ​​these statements after Afghan President Hamid Karzai told the Wall Street Journal that the governments of Afghanistan and the U.S. have begun secrettripartite meetings with the Taliban to try to strengthen the US-sponsored efforts to achievecomprehensive peace talks .

"The stronger the military pressure on the Taliban, the greater the chance to realize that they have no chance in military terms, so it is best to go to the negotiating table" he toldreporters during his visit to Greece .

"We will continue the military pressure that will help  for  a political solution" Rasmussenadded.

The NATO Secretary General said that the Afghan government should be "in the driver's seat" for any deal and that all parties must renounce terrorism, respect the Afghan constitution, including clauses on the rights of\ women and other human rights.

"I do not know if it is possible to find a negotiated solution ... If these conditions are met, you should make an effort" he said.

In Kabul, the Afghan Taliban, however, rejected the allegations of President Karzai sayingthat "the Islamic Emirate strongly rejects the statements that we have conversations withreckless administration, and do not plan to talk with the administration of PresidentKarzai" said in a statement Taliban spokesman Zampichoulach.