ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Friday categorically stated that Taliban leader Mulla Omar has neither died nor buried in Pakistan.
Replying to a point raised by Syed Naveed Qamar, he said Mulla Omar was not inQuetta or Karachi.
“I want to reiterate that Mullah Omar neither died in Pakistan nor his burial was held here. The statements of his children and relatives are on record. Whether he died now or earlier, this is also a controversy that we do not want to be involved in,” Asif told Parliamentarians.
The defence minister said that it would be a major success for Pakistan if talks between the Afghan government and Taliban negotiators end on a positive note.
“Two rounds were held for the talks. One was held in China, the second inPakistan. A third round was scheduled in Pakistan but after this news it was postponed, not cancelled. The process is still ongoing,” Khawaja Asif told lawmakers in the National Assembly.
Asif said that Americans and Chinese were taking part in the negotiations as observers.
“We still wish that this process continues and that Pakistan’s positive role becomes a part of history. Our efforts are that whoever succeeds their leadership continues with the negotiations process so that long-lasting peace can be established in the region,” he said.
He said that the Taliban leader was not in Quetta nor Karachi, adding that Pakistandoes not want to be involved in controversy pertaining to Taliban leadership.
He said we have not control over Taliban but we have some relations with them to convince them to come to negotiation table.
INP
