Kabul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai today renewed his call to Mullah Omar to lay down arms and join the peace talks to end nearly a decade of war in Afghanistan. " We hope they will join the peace process, gives up fratricide, gives up bombings and blasts, stops causing casualties to Afghanistan's children, women and men," Karzai said at a meeting of ministers and senior government representatives at the end of prayers on the first day of Eid ul Fitr, the feast at the end of Ramadan.

Since 2005 repeated overtures to the Chief of the Taliban have always been ignored by the rebels, who continue to gain ground with their propaganda against the West and the new regime in office in Kabul. On the run since 2001, Mullah Omar, of whom there is very little information or photos, is the fundamentalist guerrilla leader who ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to the end of 2001. He has not been seen in public since the Taliban regime was toppled following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The U.S. authorities claim is hiding in Pakistan, a charge Islamabad rejects.

Since he has been on the run he has refused any negotiations "until foreign troops supporting Karzai leave the country" Also this week warned the Americans against continuing the war, promising that "the victory of the Islamic nation is now imminent ". In an email attributed to Mullah, published on jihadist websites at the end of Ramadan and published by Site Intelligence Group, the Taliban leader urged his followers to avoid targeting civilians, an order that according to the U.S. commanders the Taliban frequently ignore.