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Mullah Omar, who has not been seen since the US military operation dislodged the Taliban government in late 2001, also hinted that the Taliban would talk to the Afghan side after they reach an agreement with foreign forces on an end to the "invasion".
“We have already said that the Islamic Emirate does not think of monopolizing power. Rather we believe in reaching understanding with the Afghans regarding an Afghan-inclusive government based on Islamic principles,” the Taliban leader said in a major shift in the militia's policy of not talking to other Afghan groups and the Karzai government.
He ruled out the possibility of an end to fighting against the foreign forces and also opposed the US plan to strike a security pact with the Karzai regime for military presence beyond 2014. But at the same time he said the Taliban will also pursue political dialogue process with the foreigners to end invasion.
“The aim of our contacts and talks with the invaders which are conducted through the Political Office (in Qatar) is to put an end to occupation of Afghanistan. No one should perceive that the Mujahideen will relinquish their lofty religious principles and national interests,” Mullah Omar said.
The Taliban chief declared that he will not reach any illegitimate compromise or unlawful deal in talks with the Americans.
The Taliban closed down their political office in Qatar in June after President Hamid Karzai objected at the Taliban flag atop the Taliban office and the plaque of the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” the name they had used during their rule in 1996-2001. The office is still closed, however efforts are underway to revive the process.
Mullah Omar blamed the US for the deadlock in the Qatar process of dialogue.
“The Political Office (in Qatar) proved that the Islamic Emirate has shown and is showing honesty and commitment to resolve problems of its oppressed people in the light of Islamic principles and national interests. But the invaders and their allies are creating obstacles in the way of resolving problems by making various pretexts,” the Taliban supreme leader said in his message also received by The Express Tribune.
He went on to say that the aim of the Taliban 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 Mujahideen will relinquish their lofty religious principles and national interests. I assure you that I will not reach any illegitimate compromise or unlawful deal,” he said.
He also rejected next year’s presidential elections and said that the Taliban will not take part in the democratic process which he termed as a “drama.”
“As to the deceiving drama under the name of elections 2014, our pious people will not tire themselves out, nor will they participate in it. Our pious and Mujahid people know that selection, de facto, takes place in Washington. These nominal rulers are not elected through the ballots of the people. Rather they are selected as per the discretion of Washington! Participation in such elections is only a waste of time, nothing more,” he claimed.
Mullah Omar also opposed a proposed security pact between the United States and the Afghan government that would allow several thousand American troops to stay after the NATO withdrawal.
“The occupying countries should learn from the bitter experiences of the past twelve years. They should not try their fate once more by prolonging the occupation or by establishing permanent bases,” the Taliban leader said.
“The Afghans consider the presence of small number of invading troops as an encroachment against their independence as they are not willing to accept presence of thousands of foreign troops,” he added.
The Taliban chief also urged Afghan security men to launch attacks on foreign forces.
"I urge all Afghans, who perform duties in the ranks of the enemy, to turn barrels of their guns against the infidel invaders and their allies instead of martyring their Muslim Afghans," said Mullah Omar.
He said that the Taliban always gave a hero’s welcome to these young fighters, who left the rank of the enemy and came over to the Taliban, and those who attacked the foreign and Afghan security forces.
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But afghans hadn't seen him before 2001 either.
Mullah Omar, who has not been seen since the US military operation dislodged the Taliban government in late 2001,
Maybe he's wearing a cowboy hat and living in large/expensive mansion somewhere within spitting distance of a large Pakistani military complex?