Afghanistan’s leader has thanked fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar for backing talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.   

President Ashraf Ghani said in his Eid message Friday that dialogue is the only way to resolve the conflict and “end the bloodshed.”

Ghani said it is important that the Taliban “wants to join the political process.”

Omar, in his Eid message two days ago, endorsed the opening round of direct talks between the Afghan Taliban and representatives of the government.

The talks were organized by neighboring Pakistan in the tourist city Murree close to the capital, Islamabad.

Representatives of the United States and China attended the discussions as observers.

Eid al-Fitr is a major Muslim holiday that follows the fasting month of Ramadan.

 
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