Taliban chief Omar can run for president: Karzai
Mullah Omar, the one-eyed Taliban leader who has been on run since the United States toppled his regime in late 2001, is one of the world's most wanted men and is leading a Taliban insurgency aimed at ousting Karzai.
Karzai has repeatedly called on Omar and other insurgents fighting against his administration to renounce violence and accept peaceful reintegration.
"I repeat my call on all Afghans, those who aren't the puppets of others and have (only) issues with us at home – they're welcome for any talks," he told a news conference.
"Mullah Mohammad Omar can come inside Afghanistan anywhere he wants to. He can open political office for himself but he should leave the gun.
"He along with his friends can come and create his political party, do politics, become a candidate himself for the elections. If people voted for him, good for him, he can take the leadership in his hand," Karzai said.
The Taliban have repeatedly turned down Karzai's peace offers and earlier this year withdrew from exploratory talks with the United States in Qatar.
COMMENTS (38)
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Under US' regime's umbrella????????
wait, i thought this was supposed to be a joke but karzai seems for real -_-
Well said bigsaf and gp65. How can one support mulah omar the guy who lives happily in shadoed and as his pal maybe spends his time watching porn while his devotees are being killed like flies and his followers blow up scores of innocent souls on both sides if the durand line. This mullah had harmed islam enough. We need leaders who care about the wellbeing of the people like the great caliphs did.
It's unfortunate how many religious superstitious and hypocritical Pakistanis, and indeed the dogmatic Pak state, who justify violent characters for their nationalist hegemonic gains, delusionally support and protect this Kharjite criminal, and stupidly anoint him as caliph (onto Afghanistan mostly), after all the munafiq criminal activities in the name of religion he and his Taliban committed, such as oppressing and suppressing his people, women and minorities, giving refuge to Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden, killings of Afghan and Pakistani innocents, via kidnappings, shootings and remote controlled, non-suicide and suicide bombings in masjids, tribal homes, bazaars, etc.
@Prius: "2014 is around. US is leaving for good (decision made in 2011 by Obama without knowledge of Pentagon)"
You are so conditioned by the Pakistani system to see the armed forces as a parallel institution that you are not even aware that what you have is an aberration not the norm.
In most democratic countries the state has 3 co-equal institutions with checks and balance : legislature, executive and judiciary. Armed forces are part of the excutive and report through the defense ministry. They are not an independent organ of the state. Thus Pentagon is part of the executive which reports to the President. Pentagon needs to keep Obama informed and needs his approval not the other way around.
Mr Mullah Omar, would have persued to path of power through democracy/vote , if he was atleast 50% sure of winning the election. He is not a fool. The reason why he wont take that route is becvause , he is not confident of winning the majority in Afganistan and the other point is that in democracy, you have to satisfy the electorate, be accountable to them or else they will vote you out. That is too much trouble.
@American: no one is afraid. but debating here is like banging ones head against the wall :)
I wonder why Karzai, installed puppet of US, is repeatedly exhorting Taliban to give-up guns and start negotiation. History is with Taliban, they never give-up guns. And, US and its allies of 40 countries are with Karzai and still you are begging Taliban to negotiate. Taliban, according to some liberals, don't deserve to live, then why inviting them to run your country. Are you kidding?????????? Liberals speak up....
@Muslim Not being an expert on Shariah, I can't say whether democracy is Islam or not. But without the vote of the people he wants to rule, how can a ruler claim to have the right to rule.? I mean it's not as if God is directly coming forward and appointing individual as rulers / leaders.
And what do you mean when you say "because democracy declines kalma". Democracy just means rule by the people. A democratic government could implement Islamic laws or secular laws or any other kind of laws.
@Zalmai
I agree its a war of interests in this region......by the way who articulated the so called Strategic Pact Agreement 2014-2024........and how much we will hing hopes on 'will', ifs and buts......
2014 is around. US is leaving for good (decision made in 2011 by Obama without knowledge of Pentagon)
Karzai now is becoming desperate by the day
Karzai is desperate
Now that's funny. Not in a good or bad way. In a being caught off guard not expecting it way. It would certainly be interesting. Though I can't see it happening. Even if Omar's interest got sparked I can't imagine he'd get a lot of support amongst the Taliban and other militants. Or if he did get the support and tried to run but lost they'd just start up the killings again. At the very least it's one of few statements Karzai has ever made that probably scored him some real points amongst certain groups.
It does not lie in Mr Karzai’s province to make this offer to Mullah Omar. The latter is one of the most wanted men in the world. Even the US wants him, as it wanted OBL. How can Mr Karzai offer that Mullah Omar, if he abjures violence, may run for president? The Mullah will run the risk of being arrested and handed over to the US. There may even be an Interpol warrant against him, although I am not sure about this. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 12 July 2012, 1915 IST
@Awans
Express Tribune has the most biased moderators I have ever seen. They censor every single comment of mine without any reason, yet they allow Indians and Afghans to post hate comments all the time.
hoping against hope....unluckily the anarchy seems to persist on the Afghan soil
Yes he will always vouch for AK47 to a ballot box, any day ! One simply is not going to be able to teach democracy to these people !
I think Mullah Omer should accept the offer and run for the Presidential election, If he won he should implement his Sharia Law in Afghanistan...None will object because he will be a democratically elected leader then.
antanu g You have stated correctly. What is preventing TTP to open political parties or align with the religious parties to contest elections. Why are they killing police and army personnel. Why are they threatening the state institutions. Now that elections in Pak are due next year, what is preventing TTP to start the political process instead of killing and boasting about it. If they continue to kill others using suicide bombers and hit-and-run tactics like cowards, they need to be eliminated. No two opinions on that. I hope u get my point now atleast.
@Muslim: Don't worry brother. They clerics are smart enough to bring democracy back in Islam if it benefits them. Noor party of Egypt is one good example, I guess!
@Afghanistan: Great observation and true feelings. I guess I have not seen such a realistic and refreshing comment on ET!
@Awans: why are you afraid of a debate?
@Muslim: Well you commented only to provoke another debate on this forum. Democracy is there in every religion in my view and I think ET moderators should be wary of the comments like these
History is repeating. Once karzai and other mujahideen were in pakistan against Dr Najeeb's(previous afghan president) government and Dr najeebullah was begging them for negociation and peace but Mujahideen rejected that and toppled his government and then Taliban came. Now Karzai is in centre begging for Taliban to start negociaton and Taliban is rejecting the demand. As an ordinary Afghan I think taliban should not reiterate the smae mistake mujahideen did and should start peace talk so that the whol region enjoy peaceful life.
@mohsin: He can not move even his finger without US consent
@vasan: If Afghanistan can offer olive branch to Taleban monsters, whats wrong if Pakistan has links with TTP? Both are two sides of a coin.
“I repeat my call on all Afghans, those who aren’t the puppets of others" oh the irony
Democracy is not in islam he will die as a shaheed against USA and never accept the democracy. because democracy declines kalma
Are we winning the war in Afghanistan?
A good sign that Karazi is moving towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict - brother Mullah Omar should explore this challenge. The stake holders should leave the Afghans to come to some agreement for the sake of their people. My advice is for the explonatory talks to resume in Qatar. I can help in this process since I have seen the working of the Taliban in 1996 on my last tour in Kandhar to find out the facts. My advice is to explore the possiblities of peace.
Good suggestion
karzai is saying that without american consent?
Big,bold audacious offer.
Karzai or Mullah Omar. What is the difference? Poor Afghans have suffered under both.
He is a Pakistani citizen now. I am sure Afghanistan don't have a dual nationality bill do they?