US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (file photo)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Obama administration is open to the idea of Afghanistan's government holding peace talks with the Taliban, but it should proceed cautiously.

In Washington, where Mr. Obama meets with his national security team later Monday to discuss Afghanistan, Clinton said the two countries have "discussed at length" the issue of how to reintegrate members of the Taliban who renounce violence and all ties with al Qaida.

Clinton said any future talks the Afghan government carries out should have what she called "real standards" that all participants must agree to beforehand.

Monday's national security meeting is expected to include Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Clinton. A White House spokesman says President Obama will not announce his highly-anticipated decision on U.S. troop levels until after this week.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday night's meeting will address several of Mr. Obama's questions about the war and will include a discussion of U.S. exit strategy.

The president is weighing a request from the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, for up to 40,000 additional troops to support the war effort.