A top Afghan official says he is convinced the Taliban is ready to start peace talks and move toward a non-military resolution of the war.

Burhanuddin Rabbani, head of the newly formed Afghan Peace Council told reporters in Kabul, Thursday, that initial discussions have been conducted and the Taliban is ready to start negotiating.

"They have some conditions to start the negotiations process. It gives us hope that they want to talk and negotiate," Rabbani said.

Still, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is skeptical of the claims.

"I think it's highly unlikely that the leadership of the Taliban that refused to turnover bin Laden in 2001 will ever reconcile," she said. "But, you know, stranger things have happened in the history of war."

The Afghan Taliban has repeatedly denied discussions with the government. A message on the group's Web site said any negotiations would be a "waste of time."