Afghan President calls on Taliban leader to join in peace talks

“We hope Mullah Mohammad Omar Akhund joins the peace process, gives up fratricide, gives up bombing and blasts, stops causing casualties to Afghanistan’s children, women and men,” Karzai said, addressing Omar with his religious title.

Karzai last week announced that he had set up a council, the High Peace Council, to pursue peace talks with the Taliban, who have been waging an insurgency in Afghanistan for nine years.

At the time, Karzai’s office had described the formation of the council “as a significant step towards peace talks.”

The Taliban have repeatedly spurned peace initiatives, describing Karzai’s government as a puppet of the United States and saying they will not talk peace until all foreign forces have left the country.