Afghan politician: Taliban not interested in talks

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The slaying of an Afghan leader who spearheaded the reconciliation process with the Taliban in his war-torn country punctuates the challenge of dealing with a militant movement that shows no interest in peace talks, a top Afghan political figure told CNN Wednesday.

Abdullah Abdullah, a former Afghan foreign minister and one-time presidential candidate, told CNN the killing of Burhanuddin Rabbani -- the "messenger of peace" -- reflects the face of the Taliban.

He said "the main challenge in talking to the Taliban has been that they don't believe in talks" and that making peace with the movement is an idea that should be "revisited."

He criticized the Afghan government for confusing the populace about friends and enemies and said President Hamid Karzai divided the nation. Abdullah said the government should foster a clear sense of direction and generate unity among Afghans behind a common purpose in forging peace.

"Those who are willing to bring the state down or take it to the dark ages will be isolated and should be isolated,"said Abdullah.

A former Afghan president and chairman of the High Peace Council, Rabbani was killed in an attack at his home on Tuesday and the killing stoked fears that peace efforts are in tatters.

An Afghan intelligence source told CNN that the bomber arrived at the house at the same time a meeting was due to take place between Rabbani and a delegation representing the Taliban insurgency.

Police said the bomber claimed to be a Taliban member who had come for the talks about peace and reconciliation, and detonated the explosives as he entered the home.

Long an enemy of the Taliban, Rabbani was a controversial choice when appointed by Karzai as chairman of the High Peace Council a year ago. He was forced to flee Kabul when the Taliban took over in 1996, but continued to lead resistance to the regime from his stronghold in Faizabad in northern Afghanistan.

Abdullah said another obstacle to peace is the support the Taliban gets from Pakistan's intelligence service.

"The United States, Afghanistan and the international community as a whole need to work together in order to stop support for Taliban and terrorist groups in Pakistan."

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