World

No peace until foreign troops leave Afghanistan: Mullah Mansoor

Mullah Mansoor made the demand in his first message marking the festival of Eidul Azha

Afp September 22, 2015

A file photo of Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.

KABUL: The Taliban's new leader told Kabul on Tuesday it must cancel a security deal with the United States and expel all foreign troops if it wants peace in Afghanistan.

Mullah Mansoor made the demand in his first message marking the festival of Eidul Azha since taking charge of the insurgent movement after the death of talismanic founding leader Mullah Omar was confirmed in July.

Read: Afghanistan to demand arrest, expulsion of Taliban leaders from Pakistan: sources

"If the Kabul administration wants to end the war and establish peace in the country, it is possible through ending the occupation and revoking all military and security treaties with the invaders," Mansoor said in the message posted in English on the Taliban's website.

The militants have spent recent weeks trying to patch up a damaging rift in the movement sparked by the power struggle that followed the admission Omar had died in 2013.

Read: Pakistan to go 'soft' on Afghanistan over PAF attack

Many in the movement were unhappy the death had been kept secret for two years -- during which time annual Eid statements were issued in Omar's name.

Despite its internal struggles, and the recent emergence of the rival Islamic State group in the country, the Taliban's 14-year insurgency shows no sign of slackening. Recent overtures by the government of President Ashraf Ghani for a peace settlement have ended in failure.

COMMENTS (6)

Last Word | 9 years ago | Reply The Taliban chief clearly wants a military situation to the Afghan problem. Unfortunately, the Afghans will witness more bloodshed till one side emerges victorious.

Arshad Hussain | 9 years ago | Reply If we can digest truth then we must accept that Afghanistan has seen more disasters, crime rate, lack of law and order during the presence of foreign troops in country, then ruling of their own.

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Bairooni Haath | 9 years ago | Reply He sounds like a man of principles.

Asit Ghosh, Mumbai | 9 years ago | Reply Looks like he is playing to the galleries. He probably thinks that realising such staements would help him build an image of an uncompromising Taliban. Unfortunately, the first round of talks have already caused the damage and the difficult ones in the group would always see his pronouncements as mere rhetorics.

Afghan Maihan | 9 years ago | Reply This guy is getting high on his own supply and does not understand that in real time you cannot roll back the clock.

Ravian | 9 years ago | Reply Exit of foreign forces is a very logical demand and could serve as the starting point for parleys. If Taliban are willing to shun violence, then there is not need for foreign forces in Afghanistan. The two parties could agree on time frame for the exit of foreign forces from Afghanistan.

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