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Afghan peace body calls upon Taliban to agree for ceasefire

Xinhua, July 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

A senior member of the Afghan government-backed peace body the High Peace Council (HPC) on Wednesday called upon Taliban to agree for ceasefire in its earliest.

"First of all they (Taliban) should make ceasefire and under a ceasefire peace talks should be held," Mohammad Ismael Qasimyar told Xinhua.

He made the comment in the wake of a statement attributed to Taliban elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar who expressed readiness for peace talks with the Afghan government.

Qasimyar who is an advisor on international relations with the HPC, without commenting on Mullah Omar's statement said that HPC welcomes any step bolstering peace process in the country.

Omar in the statement posted on Taliban website on Wednesday said, "If we look into our religious regulations and history, we can find that meetings and peaceful interactions with the enemies of Islam, is not prohibited but what is unlawful in meetings with enemies is overlooking Islamic principles."

"Therefore the objective behind our political efforts as well as our contacts and interactions with Afghans and countries is to bring an end to the occupation of foreign forces and to establish an independent Islamic system in our country," the elusive leader of Taliban added in the statement.

This is the first over the past 14 years that the one-eyed Taliban leader who escaped the U.S. biggest manhunt in the region expressing readiness for peace talks with Afghan government.

The comment came as the much-awaited peace talks since the collapse of Taliban regime in late 2001 were held in Pakistan's scenic town Murree near Islamabad earlier this month and both sides agreed to hold the second round of talks after Ramadan, the Muslim's fasting month.

Describing the talks as "legitimate" Omar in the statement also assured that the rights of all citizens would be safeguarded.

However, the advisor on international affairs with HPC, Qasimyar pointed out that "War is not the solution to the country' s crisis and we are hopeful they (Taliban) should realize the fact and act with wisdom." Endi