Karzai renews call for Taliban to lay down weapons

KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban and other extremist groups Friday to lay down their weapons and participate in rebuilding the battered country, as part of reconciliation efforts he has said will be his main objective during his second term.

Karzai's appeal, made in a message marking the major Muslim holiday of Eid, came two days after the reclusive Taliban leader, Mullah Omar, issued a statement ruling out talks with the president and calling on Afghans to break off relations with his "stooge" administration.

The hard-line militia has long refused to negotiate with Karzai's government or join what it considers a puppet administration.

"From the Taliban, from Hezb-e-Islami and all our other brothers who stand armed against their country, I hope that for the peace, stability and development of their country, they come back to their homeland, their families," Karzai said. Hezb-e-Islami is a militant Islamic faction led by warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Asked about Omar's message, which was posted on a Web site used by the Taliban on Wednesday, Karzai reiterated a commitment to talks.

"We will continue to invite them until peace and stability come to this country," he said.

The United States has said in the past while hard-line Taliban fighters must be defeated, there should be a reconciliation process for those who renounce violence.

"There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated," President Barack Obama said in a speech in March. "But there are also those who've taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price. These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course."

The need for talks with the militant group is recognized across the international community, but the conditions attached to such proposals — and the timing of any negotiations — are an issue of contention.

In August, the top United Nations official in Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called for talks with Taliban leaders.

"If you want relevant results, you have to talk to those who are relevant. If you want important results, you have to talk to those who are important," he said.

The previous month, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had called for talks with regular Taliban fighters, saying while hard-line fundamentalist commanders must be pursued, ordinary rank-and-file Taliban should be given the opportunity "to leave the path of confrontation with the government."