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Taliban leader Mullah Omar backs Afghanistan peace talks Taliban leader Mullah Omar backs Afghanistan peace talks
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has backed peace talks with the Afghan government, in a statement released to the media.The leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Mohammed Omar, has backed peace talks with the Afghan government, in a statement released to the media.
A message, marking the festival of Eid al-Fitr, made no direct reference to the talks but said Islam did not bar "peaceful interaction" with enemies.A message, marking the festival of Eid al-Fitr, made no direct reference to the talks but said Islam did not bar "peaceful interaction" with enemies.
Afghan government officials last week met Taliban representatives in negotiations brokered by Pakistan.Afghan government officials last week met Taliban representatives in negotiations brokered by Pakistan.
The Taliban have stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces.The Taliban have stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces.
Nato concluded its combat mission in Afghanistan last December, replacing it with a smaller deployment intended to train Afghan security forces until 2016.Nato concluded its combat mission in Afghanistan last December, replacing it with a smaller deployment intended to train Afghan security forces until 2016.
Pakistan last week hosted the first formal face-to-face negotiations between Taliban representatives and the Afghan government.Pakistan last week hosted the first formal face-to-face negotiations between Taliban representatives and the Afghan government.
The statement by Mullah Omar ends speculation that the reclusive Taliban leader had not authorised the latest talks.The statement by Mullah Omar ends speculation that the reclusive Taliban leader had not authorised the latest talks.
The text, published on a Taliban website, suggested that negotiations were a "legitimate" way of achieving the objective of ending occupation by foreign forces.The text, published on a Taliban website, suggested that negotiations were a "legitimate" way of achieving the objective of ending occupation by foreign forces.
The statement said political means to achieve "sacred goals" could be pursued "concurrently with armed jihad", under Islamic principles.The statement said political means to achieve "sacred goals" could be pursued "concurrently with armed jihad", under Islamic principles.
The statement also made an apparent reference to the Islamic State militant group, whose Afghan affiliate has gained ground in Afghanistan, clashing with the Taliban and drawing away some of its supporters.The statement also made an apparent reference to the Islamic State militant group, whose Afghan affiliate has gained ground in Afghanistan, clashing with the Taliban and drawing away some of its supporters.
"We have...directed all our mujahideen to preserve their unity and forcefully prevent all those elements who attempt to create differences," the statement said."We have...directed all our mujahideen to preserve their unity and forcefully prevent all those elements who attempt to create differences," the statement said.
Analysis: Dawood Azami, BBC World Service
The explicit endorsement of peace talks is unprecedented in this year's message. In the past, the Taliban insisted on talking only to the US, who they consider the main party to the conflict.
Though he does not refer specifically to last week's meeting in Islamabad between Afghan officials and the Taliban representatives, he has openly backed negotiations with his fellow Afghans too.
Meanwhile, he said that fighting would continue until the end of "occupation and the establishment of the Islamic system".
The defection of some Taliban fighters to Islamic State has led to clashes between the two groups in several parts of the country.
Without naming IS, Mullah Omar warns against the opening of new jihadi fronts and asks fighters to forcefully prevent all those "who create differences, damage this jihadi front and create disunity".
Although the Taliban are blamed for most civilian casualties, he reminds his followers to take care in their operations and not harm civilians.
His tone is full of confidence, spurred on by recent advances in the battlefield.