December 24, 2008	Wednesday	Zilhaj 25, 1429

KABUL, Dec 23: Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Tuesday refuted reports of any talks between the Afghan government and the militants on ways to put an end to the seven-year militancy.

“The truth is that the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate (Taliban) has had no negotiations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or anywhere else,” said a Taliban statement signed with Omar’s name and emailed to AFP.

“All of these reports are baseless and nothing but planned propaganda by certain circles.”

Afghan and international media have reported that talks were being held between Afghan officials and Taliban representatives in Saudi Arabia under Riyadh’s mediation.

Omar said he had “not received any letter” from Afghan President Hamid Karzai or from the Saudis about possible talks.

Karzai said last month he would go to “any length” to protect Omar in exchange for peace, even if that meant defying Kabul’s international partners.

Karzai has for years pushed for peace talks with the Taliban as a way out of a deadly insurgency in which foreign militants, including those from Al Qaeda, are said to be playing a part.

However he has always insisted that his government would only consider talks with “Afghan Taliban”, who do not have ties with Al Qaeda and agree to lay down their weapons and accept the country’s post-Taliban constitution.

The Taliban have said they would only agree to negotiations if the 70,000 foreign troops helping the government pull out. Omar has been in hiding since the ouster of his government by American troops.—AFP