Taliban say Mutasim no longer their leader

KABUL on Tuesday disowned Agha Jan Mutasim as a leader of the movement, saying that he was dismissed in 2010.

Mutasim, who was removed last week from the UN blacklist, on Monday called for stepping up the delisting process to pave the ground for a negotiated end to the war.

The UN removed Mutasim’s name from its blacklist in a bid to kick-start the stalled peace talks between the insurgents and the United States.

In a statement, the former minister of treasury said the people of Afghanistan were tired of war and wanted peace and stability in their homeland.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, accused the ex-minister of lacking transparency in his actions. “Currently, he neither holds any post nor represents the Islamic Emirate.”

His stay in Turkey is purely his personal choice, Mujahid said, adding that the insurgent movement had no representative or office in that country.

He called Mutasim’s statements and actions dictates that he received from others. The Taliban urged all media outlets to avoid associating Mutasim’s statements and views with the movement.

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