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

The US News (ANI) Sunday 5th February, 2012

The Afghan Taliban has denied that the group' leader Mullah Omar wrote any letter to US President Barack Obama, indicating an interest to initiate peace talks.

According to recent media reports, Obama received a letter in 2011, which purported to come directly from Omar, asking him to release senior Taliban fighters from Guantanamo Bay as a first step towards peace talks in Afghanistan.

The insurgent group, in a statement posted on its website, rejected these reports.

"Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan rejects this baseless rumor with the strongest of words," the statement said.

The White House itself was 'skeptical' whether the letter was actually from Omar, The News reports.

"There is a letter but there"s real skepticism within the administration about who it came from," a White House source said.

"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. (ANI)