"The international community, our neighbors and our people are marching toward it with full strength," President Hamid Karzai said in a speech Wednesday. "The rumors we are hearing from the Taliban and our other brothers say a lot of people are hopeful about this peace process."

But some coalition officials, Afghans and people familiar with insurgent leaders say contacts with militants are nothing new and have been overstated — perhaps to split the ranks of fighters or create the impression in the West of progress in resolving the unpopular war.

They also questioned how the U.S. could be serious about peace at a time when it is escalating its military commitment with punishing attacks in southern Afghanistan and drone strikes on militants across the border in Pakistan.

"There have been contacts for years," said Kai Eide, a Norwegian diplomat and the U.N.'s former envoy to Afghanistan. "My feeling is that this is a lot of spin that the war strategy is working — that things are moving forward more than they are."

Those with knowledge of the discussions say Karzai's government has been in contact with top-level insurgents, but caution that the talks are fragile and are not formal peace negotiations.

Mark Sedwill, NATO's top civilian representative, said Wednesday that the Afghan government had opened channels of communication with some insurgent leaders.

"Some of these are significant members of the Taliban leadership," Sedwill said.

But he added: "It's not even yet talks about talks."