KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan's president on Sunday welcomed comments by his US counterpart Barack Obama hinting at possible talks with moderate elements of the Taliban. Hamid Karzai said his government had long supported dialogue with those members of the extremist group not connected with the 'terrorists' waging an increasingly bloody insurgency in Afghanistan. "It is very good news that the American president, his excellency Obama, has backed talks with those Taliban that he termed as moderate. "This is the Afghan government's long stand. We wanted this and we support and stand with them to bring peace and stability to this land," Karzai said at an event in Kabul to mark International Women's Day. "Only those who have left their homes and are fighting their country because they are forced to, or are scared (of being arrested) or for other reasons, they are welcome (to join talks)," he added. Karzai set up a reconciliation commission in 2005 in the hope of persuading rebels to put down their weapons. Nearly 7,700 low-level Taliban and other militants have signed up, according to officials. However, Taliban leaders have repeatedly rejected Karzai's calls for reconciliation and the group has redoubled its insurgency, using increasingly sophisticated tactics including Iraq-style suicide bombings.