Saturday, August 06, 2011 – According to officials in Afghan High Peace Council, the Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omer is willing to join the Afghan peace process.
Afghan High Peace Council further added, there is optimism that the Taliban’s willingness to hold peace talks will increase.
They also said the members have managed to have direct and indirect contacts with the Taliban group.
In the meantime, Pakistani media have published reports saying that Mullah Omer was ready to hold direct talks with the United States.
Earlier, The New York Times in a report also wrote that the Taliban group was willing to join the peace process, something the High Peace Council also confirms.
Ismaiel Qasemyar, a top member of the High Peace Council on Friday said, “Mullah Mohammad Omer is ready to join the peace process and he no more sticks to not holding talks with the Afghan government.”
Mr. Qasemyar further added, direct and indirect contacts were made with important sources and there is more optimism.
He said, “when we express optimism, it is not baseless optimism.”
But the Taliban group have dismissed such reports.
The New York Times has recently written that the Taliban have in their recent statements expressed readiness to hold talks before withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan.
On the hand, a number of Pakistani media reports quote officials saying that Mullah Omar has put forward some conditions including withdrawal of foreign forces and the release of all Taliban members from US and Afghan jails.
