Omar calls on Afghan forces to join Taliban

KABUL Mohammad Omar, directing the guerrillas to avoid harming civilians during their operations, has called on Afghan security forces to join the movement.

In a late Thursday night statement released in advance of Eidul Fitr, Omar said the Taliban had gained “great achievements” in their armed struggle, saying the spring offensive launched this year was successfully underway, with the opposition suffering huge losses.

The elusive rebel leader claimed the fighters were infiltrating Afghan forces and many Afghans in the rank and files of the enemy had shown a willingness to help the Taliban in a “shrewd manner”.

He said the fighters were attacking NATO-led forces on their bases and as a result, the foreign invaders and their allies at their military centres and bases were suffering crushing blows by these heroic soldiers.

According to reports, men in Afghan army and police uniform have launched 27 attacks since the start of this year, killing 37 soldiers and injuring several others.

Omar also urged employees of the Afghan government to seek out the group’s newly established “Call and Guidance, Luring and Integration” departments that have been established throughout the country “so that they may leave the enemy ranks and join the fighters,” according to the statement.

US Army Gen. John Allen, commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan, said coalition officials were working on a new procedure to check the backgrounds of Afghans who sign up for the army or police force.

The Taliban leader claimed Afghan personnel who attacked foreign troops had joined the rebel forces. He claimed that opposition to foreign troops’ presence in Afghanistan was increasing in their respective countries. Several rallies have been carried out in foreign countries, demanding the withdrawal of their soldiers from the country, he said.

Omar called the transition of security responsibility from foreign troops to Afghans “a mere drama,” through which the foreigners wanted to hide their failure.

About billions of dollars in foreign assistance to the Afghan government, the Taliban leader said the aid had not been used for the betterment of Afghan people, but ended up in the pockets of some individuals.

Omar also said they had discussed some specific matters with the US, but the talks had long been stalled.

He explained the talks with the US did not mean their surrender or back out of their stance on Afghanistan . The contacts were about the release of Taliban prisoners, opening of a political office in Qatar and reaching their targets.

Omar said they would try to bring about an Islamic regime in Afghanistan in consultation with Afghans after the pullout of foreign troops. He said they would introduce such a government system to be acceptable to all Afghans.

He also said they had no opposition to education in line with Islamic principles and the ties be based on mutual respect and free from any interference into each other’s internal affairs. Omar assured that Afghan soil would never be used against any foreign country.

He asked the fighters to avoid harming civilians during their operations against foreign troops and protect civilian property and homour and treat people well.

Meanwhile, NATO and US top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen said the Taliban leader once again issued an unmistakable message of death, hate and hopelessness for the Afghan people

“On the eve of the most blessed celebration of Eidul Fitr when the pious people of Afghanistan celebrate their faith and the holy words of the Quran, once again Mullah Omar has issued an unmistakable message of death, hate and hopelessness for the Afghan people,” Gen. Allen said in his message on the eve of the religious festival.

 “For normal members of the faithful, this should be a message of congratulations on the occasion of the ending of the holy period of Ramazan, but instead this message speaks to insurgent operations, revenge, death, lies and false unity among the killers,” the US general said.

He said repeating the same insane language of previous years, Omar once again wrote that his fighters should “pay close attention to the protection of life, property and honour.

“Yet, as we saw in Nimroz and Kunduz provinces just days ago, Omar sent his assassins to slaughter dozens of innocent Afghan men, women and children.  In 2012 alone, hundreds of innocent Afghans have been killed by bombs built and detonated by Omar’s people,” he said.

“Either Omar is lying or his men are not listening to him, but it is clear that innocent Afghan civilians are paying the price…,” the general said.

He said Omar himself rested comfortably, but he continued to send young brain-washed men to carry out attacks in a fruitless cause.

“He professes love for his fighters, yet he sends them to their deaths by the hundreds.   Where is the vision that Omar speaks of?  Where is the love he professes for the Afghan people?  Are these not the acts of a deranged man who puts his own goals of personal domination ahead of the future of the Afghan people?

Ge. Allen alleged Omar’s people had burned numerous schools built by the government of Afghanistan and the coalition. “When Omar speaks about education in this year’s Eid message, he insults the Afghan people when he says his movement considers education as a main factor for advancement of its beloved people in this world and a cause for their prosperity in the world to come.  Not true,” he added.  .

About the Taliban’s infiltration into Afghan forces, Gen. Allen said the pride of the Afghan people had been smeared by killers who posed as soldiers and police, yet they represented the worst of humanity.

“Today, the Afghan Army and National Police are trying to build a better future for the Afghan people, yet Omar wants to stop these efforts. Coalition forces are here to help the people; we have no other reason for being here other than to make Afghanistan a stable country, founded on educated and healthy citizens.”

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