Taliban chief urges attacks and peace talks

In a wide-ranging emailed message, Mullah Mohammad Omar also blamed America and the Afghan government for the derailment of talks two months ago.

KABUL // The Taliban's reclusive leader said yesterday that his group was willing to start peace negotiations, even as he urged more attacks – including insider shootings by government security forces – on foreign troops.

In a wide-ranging emailed message, Mullah Mohammad Omar blamed America and the Afghan government for the derailment of talks two months ago.

He also called on Afghans to boycott next year's presidential elections, describing them as being manipulated by the United States.

The one-eyed chief of the Afghan insurgency urged the army and police to turn their guns on foreign forces, government officials and the Afghan troops who are co-operating with the US-led coalition forces.

The Taliban's long-standing policy is to continue attacks even as it pursues negotiations.

On June 18, the Taliban opened a political office in Doha, Qatar, aimed at beginning those negotiations. But the talks faltered after Afghan president Hamid Karzai raised concerns about the name and flag used by the mission, which gave the impression of a government in exile.

"The aim of our contacts and talks with the invaders, which are conducted through the Political Office, is to put an end to occupation of Afghanistan. No one should perceive that the Mujahedeen will relinquish of their lofty religious principles and national interests. I assure you that I will not reach any illegitimate compromise or unlawful deal," said Mullah Omar.

Striking a conciliatory tone elsewhere in the message, Mullah Omar denied that the insurgents were seeking to monopolise power in Afghanistan and said that his group favoured what he described as an "Afghan-inclusive government based on Islamic principles".

He called on Afghans to stay away from the April 5 elections for a new president and councils that will run Afghanistan's 34 provinces, saying the polls were "a waste of time".

Mullah Omar also repeated a key US demand to open the way for peace talks by pledging not to use Afghanistan as a base to threaten other countries, although he again did not openly denounce Al Qaeda - one of the original conditions set by the US that was temporarily dropped to get talks going.

The Taliban leader also warned that whatever the result of peace talks, his group would not accept the signing of a bilateral security agreement between Afghanistan and the US that would allow the presence of foreign troops beyond the end of 2014, when all international combat forces are to leave the country.

The reclusive leader has not been seen since he reportedly fled a village in southern Afghanistan on motorcycle three months after the US invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.

There are no known audio recordings of his voice since early 2002 or any pictures of Mullah Omar. He mainly communicates in messages relayed by his spokesmen.