Officials from the Afghan government are to hold talks with the Taliban and other groups, in Paris at the end of this week, aimed at discussing the pullout of NATO troops in 2014.
Speaking on RFI radio, France's foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, said:
"Discreet talks have been taking place between different factions for three years," Fabius said.
"If you want peace, it's usually between people who don't agree, and over there they don't talk to each other. So there will be discussions, but it won't be negotiations."