Taliban leader vows more attacks in Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) – Fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad
Omar on Monday vowed more attacks against U.S. forces in
Afghanistan, a day after Afghan President Hamid Karzai
suggested he “get in touch” if he wanted peace.

In a message to mark the three-day Muslim festival of Eid
al-Adha, which starts in Afghanistan on Tuesday, Omar
reiterated his call for jihad, or holy war, against the United
States.

“The Taliban attacks in Afghanistan will further intensify
in this New Year, which will force Americans to leave
Afghanistan very soon,” he said in a message carried by the
Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) news agency.

AIP said the message had been read over the telephone by a
Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Hanif.

Omar, whose whereabouts have been unknown since U.S.-led
forces toppled his government in late 2001, said jihad was a
religious obligation for Muslims as the United States was “the
biggest enemy of Islam.”

“Muslims should stand prepared for the sacrifice of jihad
on the great day of Eid al-Adha because armed jihad is the only
way to safeguard the Islamic world.”

Omar’s Taliban was driven from power after refusing to
surrender al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the September
11 attacks on the United States.

Karzai told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday he
was willing to listen to what Omar had to say, but said the
Taliban leader would first have to account for his actions.

Omar’s message made no mention of Karzai.

But Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, a deputy of Omar and defense
minister in the Taliban’s deposed regime, rejected the offer,
calling Karzai an “American puppet” who should be tried in an
Islamic court.

“Hamid Karzai, the American agent, has turned Afghanistan
into an American base and has killed thousands of Afghans,” he
told Reuters by satellite phone from a secret location.

An adviser to Karzai said the government’s attitude toward
Omar remained uncompromising.

“Our policy regarding talks with Taliban is clear. Omar is
a criminal and he should be brought to justice,” he told
Reuters.

The United States has posted a $10 million reward for the
Taliban leader, but Omar also has plenty of enemies among
Afghans who fought against and endured five years of harsh
Taliban rule.

Despite the presence of almost 30,000 foreign troops, the
country remains dogged by violence.

Thousands have been killed since 2001, more than 1,200 last
year alone, including hundreds of militants and more than 50
U.S. soldiers.

Akhund said it would be a betrayal of Islam to stop
fighting “America and the infidel forces.” “Mullah Omar and his
Taliban are not ready for this sin,” he said, adding that
suicide attacks would continue.

Karzai says hundreds of insurgents have already given up
and a handful of former Taliban won seats in September
elections.

He held out an olive branch to Taliban rank and file two
years ago, and the head of a national reconciliation commission
said in November talks were needed to end the violence.

Omar and bin Laden are often said to be hiding on the
rugged Afghan-Pakistani border, protected by friendly Pashtun
tribes.