No peace until withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan: Taliban leader

Taliban new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor has linked returning peace to Afghanistan to the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the militancy-plagued country.

In a message released on the advent of Muslims largest annual religious festival the Eidul Adha, Mullah Mansoor categorically stated, "If Kabul administration wants returning peace in the country it should annul all defense and security agreements with occupying forces."

Afghanistan government has signed Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the United States which allowed some 13,800 strong NATO- led Resolute Support (RS) mission to remain in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of NATO-led ISAF forces from the country in 2014.

The new leader of Taliban in his message said that the " occupying troops" have been defeated in Afghanistan and the day of victory for Mujahideen (holy warriors) is getting closer.

Mansoor also stated in the message that Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban former regime) wants to have friendly relations with all countries especially the Islamic world and has been seeking their role in ending the war and returning peace in Afghanistan.

Eidul Adha will be celebrated on Thursday amid tight security. However, the war-weary Afghans are concerned that the hardliner militants like yester years would organize deadly suicide attacks to kill people, although, Mansoor in his message called upon his followers not to hurt civilians during military operations. Endi