Taliban open to talks in line with Sharia law: Haqqani

Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani terrorist network and deputy chief of the Taliban group has said that the Taliban is open to talks only if negotiations are in line with Islamic Sharia.

The Taliban group and the Haqqani terrorist network have long been demanding the complete withdrawal of foreign forces and establishment a strict Sharia rule in the country. "The Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] is not opposed to talks if they are held in line with Sharia and if the international community agrees to this," the Express Tribune quoted Sirajuddin as saying in a rare audio message.

Sirajuddin, was appointed deputy of Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzada after Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21. He was also deputy to Mansoor. "Our Political Commission deals with the issue of negotiations. If we were opposed to talks, we would have not formed this commission," he said.

The Taliban released a 45-minute audio with a brief statement, where Sirajuddin has talked about important issues. Asserting that it is a consensus decision of the Taliban leadership, he said that the international community has imposed a "puppet administration" on the people of Afghanistan.

"They are now asking and even forcing us to join it. We cannot accept this demand. The Kabul administration has no power as it cannot implement any decision," he added. Sirajuddin's audio message has been released as Quadrilateral talks involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and United States failed to revive the peace talks.