KABUL, Jan 4: Talks were continuing on Friday between a Taliban commander and tribal elders in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province over the fate of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, an intelligence official said.

The matter was expected to be finalized by the weekend, said Nasratullah Nasrat, an official in Kandahar’s provincial intelligence services.

“We can’t wait longer than one or two days, otherwise of course we will attack them,” he said. Nasrat denied reports that Omar was expected to be captured imminently.

The shura, or meeting of tribal elders, in Helmand province which began on Tuesday was still continuing on Friday, Nasrat said.

He made it clear that while the shura was still in session, no steps would be taken to apprehend Omar.

Taliban commander Abdul Ahad, better known as Rayes Baghran — the Chief of Baghran — has told the shura he would hand over Omar and also surrender along with his force of up to 1,500 men if the US bombing campaign was halted in southern Afghanistan.—AFP