WASHINGTON: United States President-elect Barack Obama is reportedly planning major changes in his country's policy on the war in Afghanistan and intends to renew the commitment to hunt for Osama bin Laden.

The Washington Post on Tuesday said that Mr Obama wants to explore a more regional strategy in Afghanistan, including the possibility of negotiations with Iran.

The paper also quoted an unnamed senior adviser as saying that Al-Qaeda 'is our enemy', and that its leader Osama 'should be our principal target'.

Unidentified national security advisers to the President-elect were also quoted as saying that Mr Obama believes the Bush administration has played down the hunt for Osama after years of failing to apprehend him. But the paper said that Mr Obama's transition team has yet to plot a diplomatic approach to Pakistan, where Osama is thought to be in hiding.

Meanwhile, The Post said Mr Obama plans to add thousands of troops to the campaign in Afghanistan, but might also seek to find common ground with Iran, which shares a border with Pakistan.

An official was quoted as saying the Iranians do not want Sunni extremists in charge of Afghanistan any more than the US does. Most Iranian Muslims belong to the Shi'ite sect of Islam.

On the Taleban question, the report said Mr Obama might support discussions between the Afghan government and elements of the militant group who have agreed to abandon violence and respect the country's Constitution.

ASSOCIATED PRESS