Rome, 25 Nov. (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar has denied any negotiations with the United States in a message for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. The message claimed foreign troops were losing the war in Afghanistan and said the Afghan people would not agree to any talks that prolonged the presence of foreign forces in the country.

"The invaders do not want negotiation aimed at granting independence to Afghanistan and ending their invasion but they want negotiation which will prolong their evil process of colonisation and occupation," said the message.

"However, the people of Afghanistan will not agree to negotiation which prolongs and legitimises the invaders' military presence in our beloved country."

Omar led the Taliban regime that was toppled by the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. He hasn’t been seen in years. Afghan officials claim he’s hiding in Pakistan.

“Those who have occupied our country and taken our people as hostage, want to use the stratagem of negotiation like they used the drama of elections in order to achieve their colonialist objectives," Omar said.

The message was posted on a website used by the Taliban and was e-mailed to journalists from an address often used to send out Omar’s messages

The message decried the tribal militias which which the US has formed to fight against the Taliban in the southern and eastern Afghanistan.

It urged Afghans to "mete out exemplary punishment to those who are leading these mischief-making activities."

"The realities on the ground in Afghanistan indicate, the Americans and other allied invaders will certainly face a route - this is a defeat which can’t be averted by reinforcement and formulation of successive irrational strategies," it said.

US president Barack Obama is expected next week to make an announcement on the possible despatch of up to 40,000 extra military personnel to Afghanistan to combat the increasingly violent, Taliban-led insurgency.

“The people, whom you have chosen for confrontation, have the honour of dismantling the arrogant empires," the message said.

"These are the people who before you, have wiped out two empires – the British and Russian empires - from the map of the world," it continued.

“It is better for you to choose the path of rationale instead of militarism and put an end to the occupation of Afghanistan."

The message said the “freedom loving people of Europe and the west" they should not be fooled "by the misleading assertions of your colonialist rulers who call this war a war of necessity."

“Your colonialist rulers have invaded our country under the pretext of terrorism to augment the wealth of a few capitalists and spread the net of neo-colonialism over our country.

"Countering this atrocity and aggression and the defense against it, is our legitimate and national right. We will use this right of ours with all our resources and sacrifices," it said.

The message called on neighbouring countries like Pakistan to help the 'mujahadeen' or 'holy warriors' waging Jihad in Afghanistan.

Militants were to blame for about three-quarters of the 1,500 Afghan civilian deaths the first eight months of this year, according to the United Nations.

However, Omar's message blamed US and NATO forces for killing civilians in military operations, and said these nations are guilty of human rights abuses because of the mistreatment of prisoners.

It said the Organization of Islamic Countries should protect Afghans from the human right abuses by international forces in Afghanistan.

The message urged Afghans to break off all relations with the "stooge Kabul administration" of Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

Karzai said in his inauguration speech last week it was was important to include in the government former Taliban who were ready to renounce terrorism.