KABUL, Oct 2: Afghan President Hamid Karzai is reviewing his strategy for peace with the Taliban after his top envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani was murdered, a spokesman said on Sunday, as officials alleged that the killer was a Pakistani national.

A statement released by the presidential palace said new evidence showed that Mr Rabbani’s killer was “a citizen of Pakistan”.

The claims came hours after a spokesman for Mr Karzai, Siamak Herawi, said the president was reviewing his strategy for peace with the Taliban in the wake of Prof Rabbani’s killing.

No substantive peace talks have yet taken place between the Afghan government and the Taliban. “All peace talks with the Taliban are suspended. The president will review the peace and reconciliation strategy,” Mr Herawi said.

The spokesman said Mr Karzai was expected to announce a new strategy for peace efforts in a televised address “very soon”.

Separately, members of the High Peace Council backed President Karzai reviewing his policy on talks. The council said the negotiations should continue, but with Pakistan, rather than the Taliban.

“For the groups that are tired of conflict and want to end the killings and destruction inside the country, peace efforts must continue,” the council said in a statement.

“But because of those who hide in Pakistan with no known address, who send killers (to Afghanistan), we must negotiate with Pakistan instead.”

Meanwhile, an investigative team said evidence and a confession provided by a man involved in Mr Rabbani’s killing had revealed that the bomber was from Chaman and the assassination had been plotted in Quetta. —Agencies