Afghan and Western officials are reported as saying that a top Taliban leader involved in secret peace talks with the Afghan government was in fact an impostor. The New York Times says the fake negotiator also met with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul. But the president has denied meeting the purported Taliban leader.Unidentified officials are quoted as saying the fake Taliban negotiator identified himself as Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, a prominent commander of the insurgents.
The man held three meetings with Afghan and NATO officials and was also flown to Kabul in a NATO aircraft for talks with President Karzai.
Speaking to reporters in the Afghan capital, Karzai said he did not meet with anyone named Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, telling reporters not to accept "propaganda" from foreign media. Karzai however, acknowledged that his government had been in indirect contact with the Taliban.
The man held three meetings with Afghan and NATO officials and was also flown to Kabul in a NATO aircraft for talks with President Karzai.
Speaking to reporters in the Afghan capital, Karzai said he did not meet with anyone named Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, telling reporters not to accept "propaganda" from foreign media. Karzai however, acknowledged that his government had been in indirect contact with the Taliban.
