Taliban leader Mullah Omar in an Eid message on Tuesday said the upcoming Bonn Conference was symbolic and the Taliban would not participate in it. In an Eid message to the Afghan, he said Afghanistan would not be represented by genuine representatives of the Afghans in the conference.
However, President Hamid Karzai’s Office said the Bonn Conference was very important in overcoming the challenges in Afghanistan.
“Topics that will be discussed at the Bonn Conference have already been decided upon in Washington and in the Pentagon,” Mullah Omar said.
He opposed to the establishment of permanent US military bases in Afghanistan, saying neighbouring countries also opposed the idea.
Karzai’s deputy spokesman said the Afghan government would represent the Afghans at the Bonn Conference, it would discuss challenges in the past 10 years and present programmes for reconstruction, peace and stability to the international community.
“The Bonn Conference can surely be effective to the Afghans,” the deputy spokesman said, adding, “It is up to the people of Afghanistan to decide upon establishment of US military bases in Afghanistan.”
The Taliban leadership said it was because of the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan that the country was hit by a flood of challenges. The comments came as a senior official in Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said if the Taliban were willing to participate in the conference, it should join the peace process.
