Sufi leaders in Afghanistan claim that at least 60 percent of the country's population are followers of Sufism, or at least support and respect Sufi values.

Sayed Ishaq Gilani, a prominent Afghan politician and a Sufi himself, says that armed force has so far failed to defeat the Taliban. He says it's time to explore other avenues to put an end to their insurgency.

"If Sufi followers are supported, there is a 99.9 percent chance that Sufis could help prevent all kinds of fallacies being used by various groups in the name of Islam," Gilani adds.

So, if Sufis try to persuade the Taliban to lay down their arms, will the militants accept their message of peace?

One prominent Taliban figure, Abdul Hakim Mujahed, a former Taliban representative in New York, says it's worth trying. He says that the Taliban "consists of people from various backgrounds," and that while some "oppose" Sufis, others have "great respect" for them and are even followers.