Deputy Taleban leader reiterates no compromise, talks with Afghan government
Source: AIP - BBC
Peshawar - A deputy to Mullah Mohammad Omar [leader of the Taleban] says that the Taleban have neither talked with the Americans and the [Afghan] government nor do they intend to do so.
A deputy of Mullah Mohammad Omar (who has two deputies), Mullah Abdol Ghani, who is also known as Mullah Beradar, telephoned the Afghan Islamic Press in Peshawar from an unknown location this evening. He said that "reports saying that the Taleban have held some sort of talks with the Americans or the government have no foundation." He added: "The Taleban have not held any talks whatsoever with the Americans or the government of Afghanistan and neither do they have any intention to do so."
When the Afghan Islamic Press asked him about the reason for not holding talks, he said: "No talks could be held with them ever. Because we know their hostility and they know our hostility."
The Afghan Islamic Press then asked him what strategy would the Taleban choose in the forthcoming parliamentary election in Afghanistan? The Taleban had issued many warnings at the time of the presidential election, too, but nothing happened in reality. In response, Mullah Beradar said: "We were thinking at that time that no harm should be inflicted on the people. In the future, we will continue our attacks and will continue our jihad to the best of our ability."
Warning of increasing attacks by the Taleban, the deputy to Mullah Mohammad Omar, Mullah Beradar, said that "Praise to Almighty God, our operations are continuing well. These operations will increase and the Taleban - in line with their new policy - will continue their operations."
The Afghan Islamic Press then asked Mullah Beradar that knowing that the Taleban do not believe in negotiations and are opposed to the parliamentary election, what is it that they really want? In response he said: "We will continue our jihad until the American forces withdraw from Afghanistan and the government installed by them is eliminated. The jihad will continue as long as we are alive."
Speaking about the recent surrender of a well-known Taleban commander, Rayyes Abdol Wahed, in Helmand Province [south Afghanistan], Mullah Beradar said: "He is the head of a tribe. His joining the government is his personal opinion. It is possible that he may have some sort of strategy in doing such a thing."
Concerning some reports circulating in the Pakistani press that Mufti Latifollah Hakimi is not a spokesman for the Taleban, he said: "these reports are false. Hakimi is our spokesman. He is the only link between us and the international press."
Mufti Latifollah Hakimi says that presently Mullah Mohammad has two deputies: one is Mullah Beradar and the other is Mullah Obaydollah. Mullah Beradar was a very well known military commander of the Taleban in northern and central Afghanistan during the government of Taleban.
No softening of attitude towards the Afghan government has been detected in this entire conversation, which he held today with the Afghan Islamic Press.
http://www.sabawoon.com/news/miniheadlines.asp?dismode=article&artid=22502
OPINION: Mullah Omar...is he in any type of negotiating position, anyway?
I don't think so.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1399346/posts
"Afghanistan - Mullah Omar and Hekmatyar not excluded from a possible amnesty"
AFP via Babelfish translation | May 9, 2005
Posted on 05/09/2005 12:30:36 AM PDT by HAL9000