New Delhi: The Obama administration has said the solution to war in Afghanistan could be a Swat style truce from US secretary of Defence Robert Gates has said in Krakow, Poland, that it is acceptable for American to have such an agreement.
Gates says some sort of political reconciliation will have to be part of a long-term solution in Afghanistan.
Pakistani authorities and pro-Taliban rebels in the Swat valley in Pakistan concluded a pact aimed at restoring peace.
It allows the introduction of Islamic law in the area if militants lay down their arms.
However, Richard Holbrooke, the new US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said he was worried the peace deal was tantamount to a surrender by the authorities.
The Defence Secretary also said on Friday that the Obama administration needs time to review the plans of the previous administration to develop a strategic missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Gates said he has told Polish leaders to allow some time for the review.
The US needs to put this issue in context in terms of its relations with Poland and the Czech Republic and also with Russia, he told reporters at an informal meeting of NATO defence ministers.
Gates held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Bogdan Klich Thursday, on the sidelines of the NATO meeting.
"I simply asked the Polish leaders for a little time for the (US) administration to be able to do that (review)," said Gates.
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