Taliban deny meeting UN envoy for Afghanistan

Jan 30, 2010, 9:08 GMT

Kabul - The Taliban denied reports Saturday that insurgent leaders met with the top United Nations envoy for Afghanistan to discuss bringing peace to war-torn country.

In a statement sent to media in Kabul, the Taliban Islamic Leadership Council called the reports of talks with envoy Kai Eide as 'mere futile and baseless rumors, being a machination against Jihad and mujahideen who are waging Jihad against the invaders.'

'The Leadership Council once again emphasizes continuation of Islamic Jihad against all invaders,' it said.

Although Eide has not publicly acknowledged the talks, some Afghan and Western media reported that the meeting took place in Dubai earlier this month.

The meeting reportedly took place days before a conference on Afghanistan in London, where representatives from around 70 countries renewed their commitment to the country.

President Hamid Karzai said in London Thursday that he would summon a 'peace jirga,' or council of elders, later in the year to discuss prospects of peace in Afghanistan and reintegration of Taliban fighters.

An initial 140 million dollars was also pledged in the conference for a new reconciliation fund aimed at enticing Taliban fighters to lay down their arms and return to civil society.

Saturday's statement said the insurgent leadership vehemently rejected peace talks with the Afghan government and its US-led international military allies.

'The Leadership Council and the sacrificing mujahideen, with the help of the Almighty Allah, will defeat the futile efforts and conspiracies of the enemies of Jihad and they will face infamy,' it said.