A former Pakistani general says that the United States should talk face to face with the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan if it wants to bring about peace.

CNN reported on Friday that Retired Gen. Hamid Gul helped the CIA train the Afghan Jihad in their battles with the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Many of them went on to become the Taliban, governing Afghanistan under the leadership of Mullah Omar.

Gul said," The best situation would be to talk to Mullah Omar. You have to engage him. You have to talk to him. There is no one else, for heaven sake, why beat around the bush?"

The Obama administration could contact Omar through the Pakistani military, Gul said. CNN further said that military officials in Pakistan deny they are in contact with Omar or could bring him to a negotiating table.

He will pursue talks with the Taliban as part of a reconciliation and reintegration plan, said Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Washington also accepted to support the plan, but rejected any talks with Omar.

CNN also reported that Taliban officials say Omar has no interest in a peace deal. (With Inputs from Agencies)