United States welcomes Afghan-Taliban talks: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States welcomes talks between the Afghan government and Taliban, the White House said on Tuesday after Afghanistan announced it had sent a peace delegation to Pakistan for talks. "This is an important step toward advancing prospects for a credible peace," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. The meeting could be a step toward starting a formal peace process with the insurgent group, which was ousted from power by a U.S. led invasion in 2001. (Editing by Bill Trott)