By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar has blamed the US and its allies for creating ‘obstacles’ in the path of peace in Afghanistan following the opening of the group’s Political Office in Qatar.
In an Eid message released to the media yesterday, the elusive leader also warned that the Taliban would not stop their attacks until all the US and Nato troops withdraw from Afghanistan, and rejected all aspirations of the US and Kabul administrations to have a continued presence of foreign troops after 2014.
“The aim of our contacts and talks with the invaders which are conducted through the Political Office is to put an end to the occupation of Afghanistan. No one should perceive that the Mujahideen will relinquish their lofty religious principles and national interests. I assure you that I will not reach any illegitimate compromise or unlawful deal,” Omar said.
Referring to the reaction when the Taliban raised their flag and had a plaque installed outside their Doha office that said ‘The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,’ Mullah Omar blamed the US and Kabul administration for the breakdown of talks in Qatar. He also hinted that the Taliban would not concede any ground in any future talks with the US in Qatar.
“The developments following the opening of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate proved that the Islamic Emirate is independent, strong and unwavering in its decisions. It was also proved that the Islamic Emirate has shown and is showing honesty and commitment to resolve problems of its oppressed people in the light of Islamic principles and national interests. But the invaders and their allies are creating obstacles in the way of resolving problems by making various pretexts,” he said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to Pakistan had said the Taliban broke their word in Doha. “They had accepted a certain set of requirements and they went back on their word,” he had said.
During the same visit, Kerry had also said that Washington and Kabul would reach a long-term security agreement that would allow American troops to remain in the country beyond 2014. “Let me be clear: the US is drawing down, not withdrawing,” Kerry had said.
In response, Mullah Omar called on the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan to learn from their ‘bitter experiences’ of the past 12 years.
“The Western invaders should have come around by now to realise that the Afghans do not want foreign invaders and their installed rulers. If they think that they can pave the way for a permanent (military) presence by resorting to misinformation and gimmicks and by implementing different schemes or in their words, convening a fake Loya Jirga for approval of the security agreement or by creating other pretexts, they are wrong.
“The Afghans consider the presence of a small number of invading troops as an encroachment against their independence as they are not willing to accept the presence of thousands of foreign troops,” he said.
He said the Mujahideen would not disband for material privileges such as government slots while ‘occupation’ was still in place. He also termed the categorisation of ‘hardline’ and ‘moderate’ Taliban as ‘futile and hostile.’
Omar also blamed President Hamid Karzai-led Kabul administration for trying to ‘deceive’ the US and other foreign powers in Afghanistan since they allegedly wanted to ensure their own power and personal interests.
Speaking about the foreign policy of the Taliban, he said they do not intend to harm anyone, nor would they allow anyone to harm others from the Afghan soil. He said the Taliban do not think
of monopolising power.
“Rather we believe in reaching an understanding with the Afghans regarding an Afghan-inclusive government based on Islamic principles…When the occupation ends, reaching an understanding with the Afghans will not be a hard task because, by adhering to and having common principles and culture, the Afghans understand each other better,” he said.
However, in the same breath, he also strongly rejected the upcoming 2014 elections in Afghanistan as a ‘deceiving drama.’
“Our pious and Mujahid people know that selection, de facto, takes place in Washington. These nominal rulers are not elected through the ballots of the people. Rather they are selected as per the discretion of Washington. Participation in such elections is only a waste of
time, nothing more,” he said.
About the international humanitarian organisations, he said they could continue their activities in areas under their control on the basis of their conditions and policy. However, he warned them to keep away from political and espionage motives “established by the invaders for collecting intelligence or inviting people to non-Islamic ways.”