Zardari open to talks with the Taliban

President Asif Ali Zardari said he is willing to consider reopening negotiations with the Taliban in Pakistan.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Zardari said that Pakistan had never closed the door to talks with the Taliban. "We never closed the dialogue," he said. "We had an agreement, which they broke. (Talks will resume) whenever they feel we're strong enough and they realise they can't win, because they won't win. It will be a painful difficult task, but defeat is not an option."

Zardari, called accusations by British Prime Minister David Cameron and others that Pakistan was exporting terrorism as "exaggerated", adding that the military was doing more than it ever had.  He said the military was working hard to rid the Swat Valley and South Waziristan of extremist elements.

Zardari further dismissed assertions that some in the Pakistani government may know the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.

Zardari urged the international community to equip his military with drones and other equipment. He also called for more help in opening up international markets to Pakistani trade and products