Omar surrender negotiations at ‘crucial stage’
An intelligence official in Afghanistan’s interim government has said negotiations for the surrender of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar have reached “a crucial stage”, with a resolution expected within two days.
Tribal leaders in the Baghran area of Helmand province have reportedly been sheltering Mullah Omar since he surrendered the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar last year.
The US has apparently threatened to bomb Baghran unless Omar is handed over by Saturday.
Nusrat Ullah revealed today that a team of anti-Taliban officials, headed by Helmand Governor Sher Mohammed, are currently negotiating the final terms of a surrender deal.
The talks have been ongoing since Monday.
Meanwhile, Pakistani intelligence agents have arrested the former Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, according to his nephew.
Several intelligence officials raided Mullah Zaeef’s home in Islamabad today before leading him away, according to Hamid Ullah. “Since then, we have not heard anything from him,” he added.
Mullah Zaeef became an international figure through his daily press conferences during the US attacks on his countrymen last year.
Pakistan shut down his embassy in November when the Northern Alliance began making military gains against the Taliban throughout Afghanistan.
