KABUL (SW): A high-ranking Afghan official claimed Peace Talks with the Taliban would not be jolted as Kabul government was well aware of Mullah Omar’s death years ago.
Shahzada Shahid, Spokesman for the High Peace Council (HPC) told SW the security establishment briefed the parliament over two years ago about Omar’s death but the news was kept secret for various reasons. He claimed the new Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and others seeking the post all were in favour of talks.
Shahid, who is also a Wolesi Jirga (lower house) member, added Taliban’s internal feud would not hamper the efforts for peace in the country.
“Mullah Omar was already dead when the talks begun and with the backing of Mullah Mansoor, so they would continue but there would be a delay”, he noted.
Second round of the nascent peace talks was due on July 31 when Pakistan announced the postponement reportedly on the request of Afghan Taliban. In view of the reports regarding the death of Mulla Omar and the resulting uncertainty, and at the request of the Afghan Taliban leadership, the second round of the Afghan peace talks, which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan on 31 July 2015, is being postponed, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced on Thursday.
Pakistan and other friendly countries of Afghanistan hope that the Taliban leadership will stay engaged in the process of peace talks in order to promote a lasting peace in Afghanistan, it said.
In reply, Afghanistan expressed regret over the postponement.
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, as always, is committed to the peace negotiations with the Afghan Taliban movement and hopes that the aforementioned meeting will be held in the near future, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said in a statement.
Musa Hotak, a Masharano Jirga (upper house) member too was of the opinion that the peace process would resume after a pause. “There is no other way for peace but to end the difference with talks”, he stressed.
The HCP Spokesman confirmed in his interview that the Taliban leadership, particularly some members of their Queeta Shura did have reservations regarding Mullah Mansoor being named as the new “Emir”. “All of them have consensus for talks”, he claimed.
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