Taliban leader Mullah Omar 'sent letter to Obama indicating interest in peace talks'

Afghanistan Sun (ANI) Saturday 4th February, 2012

Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Taliban, has reportedly sent US President Barack Obama a letter, indicating an interest to initiate peace talks.

The unsigned letter reportedly carries a message from the insurgent group's leader to Obama, asking him to release senior Taliban fighters from Guantanamo Bay as a first step towards peace talks in Afghanistan.

White House officials, however, said that it cannot be confirmed who had sent the letter.

"There is a letter but there's real skepticism within the administration about who it came from," The Telegraph quoted a White House source, as saying.

"We've received things but have we received anything that we can say we believe came from Mullah Omar? Not at this point," the source added.

Last month, the Taliban made a surprise announcement that it would open a political office in Qatar.

But questions were raised over whether the movement is serious about a long-term settlement or wants to bargain for prisoner releases.

According to the paper, if the letter is confirmed to have come from the fugitive mullah it would be the strongest indication yet that the upper echelons of the Taliban movement are prepared to come to the negotiating table after ten years of insurgency. (ANI)