Pakistan denies Mulla Omar’s death, burial on its soil
Defence minister says Pakistan to continue efforts for peace talks
APP

ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhamamd Asif on Friday categorically denied that Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar had died and was buried on Pakistan's soil.

“We totally deny that Mullah Omar died in Quetta or Karachi; we also don't know either he died a natural death or was killed,” he told the National Assembly in response to a point of order of MNA Syed Naveed Qamar. The minister said that heirs of Mullah Omar had also stated that he was buried in Afghanistan.

He said whatever allegations were leveled against Pakistan in the past but the fact was that Pakistan has no control over the Taliban. “Pakistan had such relations to convince them for talks with the Afghan government,” he said. Pakistan's focus was just on the reconciliation process, he said.

– Talks postponed, not suspended –

“It is our strategic focus that the peace process continues with success and brings peace and stability to Afghanistan and the region,” he said. Asif also said that two rounds of peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban were held in China and Pakistan. The reconciliation talks had been postponed and not suspended, he said.

– Taliban’s internal affair –

The minister said that Pakistan, US and China participated in the Murree peace talks as observers. After the death of Mulla Omar, he said there were reports of differences among the Taliban over the new leadership but it was their internal affair. He said that Pakistan did not want to indulge in any controversy and wanted that the peace process should continue and end culminate on good note.

The minister said that Pakistan would continue its efforts for peace talks whosoever emerges as Taliban new leader.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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