Clinton said that the United States remained committed to seeking a political solution in Afghanistan as Nato troops prepare to end the more than decade-old war by the end of 2014.
"What the Taliban do is up to them. We have been clear, we are prepared to continue discussions and our goal is to open the door so that Afghans can be negotiating among and between themselves," Clinton told a joint news conference with Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul.
The Taliban announced last week that it was suspending contacts with the United States due to a row over a prisoner swap. The United States had hoped the contacts in the Gulf state of Qatar would ease the way to a political deal.
Clinton made clear that US troops would keep up force against Taliban who do not renounce violence and made a new appeal for the rights of women, which were severely curtailed during the Taliban regime toppled in 2001.
"Any negotiation must require the Taliban to break ties with al Qaeda, to renounce violence and to abide by Afghanistan's constitution, including the protections of women and minority rights," Clinton said.
Clinton also made a fresh statement of regret on behalf of President Barack Obama's administration for a US soldier's massacre of 16 Afghan soldiers.
"This has been very personally painful to me and to the president. It does not represent who the United States is, who the American people are," Clinton said.
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