Taliban leader nods peace talks, Afghan peace body calls for ceasefire

The Taliban elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar who rarely issues statement on Wednesday described the peace talks with Afghan government as "legitimate" and announced his armed outfit's readiness for talks.

Omar in his congratulatory message ahead of Muslims' Eidul Fitr festival to celebrate the end of Muslims' fasting month Ramadan, probably falling on Friday depending on moon sight, said that the outfit's political office has been authorized to negotiate with Afghans and foreigners.

"If we look into our religious regulations and history, we can find that meetings and peaceful interactions with the enemies of Islam, is not prohibited but what is unlawful in meetings with enemies is overlooking Islamic principles," Omar said in the statement posted on Taliban website.

"Therefore the objective behind our political endeavors as well as our contacts and interactions with Afghans and countries is to bring an end to the occupation of foreign forces and to establish an independent Islamic system in our country," the elusive leader of Taliban outfit added in the statement.

This is the first time over the past 14 years that the one-eyed Taliban leader who escaped the U.S. biggest manhunt in the region expressing readiness for peace talks with Afghan government.

The comment came as the much-awaited peace talks since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 were held in Pakistan's scenic town Murree near Islamabad earlier this month and both sides agreed to hold the second round of talks after Ramadan, the Muslim's fasting month.

"It is our legitimate right to utilize all legal means and ways to achieve peace, because being as an organized setup, we are responsible before our people and we are an integral part of human society and rely upon one another in the country," the statement attributed to Omar said, adding, "All Mujahidin (holy warriors) and countrymen should be confident that in this process, the rights of all Afghan citizens would be safeguarded."

"We have established a 'political office' for political affairs, entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring political activities and conducting all political negotiations for peace in the country," Omar who has not been seen since the collapse of his regime in late 2001, stressed in the statement.

Meanwhile, a senior member of the Afghan government-backed peace body the High Peace Council (HPC) on Wednesday cautiously welcomed Omar's statement and called upon Taliban to agree for ceasefire in its earliest.

"First of all they (Taliban) should make ceasefire and under a ceasefire peace talks should be held," Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar told Xinhua.

Qasimyar who is an advisor on international relations with the HPC, without commenting on Mullah Omar's statement said that HPC welcomes any step bolstering peace process in the country.