Mullah Abdul Salaam Zaeef, a former high-ranking member of the Taliban regime, has refuted reports that he is involved in any sort of negotiations between the Britain and reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Earlier, a section of the British media had reported that Mullah Zaeef's recent visit to London was aimed at facilitate British-sponsored talks between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and senior members of the Taliban.
Zaeef said, "Neither did I offer to start secret negotiations nor I am interested in it. I am not in contact with the British government or its foreign office regarding such issue; all such reports are baseless."
Zaeef made his first visit to Britain last week under tight security. He attended a closed conference aimed at ending the fighting in Afghanistan. According to the British media, he was banned from speaking publicly by the terms of his visa but he held private meetings with British officials.
Responding to it Zaeef said, "Being a true Muslim and a Afghan, if someone asks my views regarding some issue I will have to give right directions or advice but I will never become a party to it, myself. I would never represent some side in talks -- I can't do anything for Afghan peace."
Zaeef is the first person associated with the Taliban regime of Mullah Omer to travel to Britain.
Last year, at the request of Karzai, Zaeef's name was removed from UN Security Council blacklist. During his stay, Zaeef participated at a conference at King's College London where experts from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, US and Britain participated.
Zaeef is believed to be in direct contact with Mullah Omar. During Taliban regime, Zaeef was the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, but after the 9/11 attacks, he was handed over to US forces by his hosts.
First he was held at a prison in Bagram Air Base followed by his transfer to Guantanamo Bay. In 2005, he was released after signing a bond committing not to engage in anti-US activities. He was then moved into a safe-house in Kabul where he lives under armed guard.
"I want to make it clear on all that I am leading a normal life and in my current position, I can only represent myself not a group or party. Neither will I represent the current Afghan government or any other group of Afghans in the peace process. I have kept myself distant from the current process of negotiations for peace in Afghanistan. All of my visit should be considered as my personal activity."
