“Conditional Agreement for Claim of Omar“

While the Taliban runaway troops and the local tribes agreed to hand over Omar, who is known to be hidden in Bagram, rumors that Omar has already been arrested are floating around.

Minister Muhammad Amin Farhang of the Afghan interim government said in his interview with German ARD TV that "I heard that Omar was arrested but don`t know anything more."

U.S. B1 bombers raided buildings in the South of Tora Bora after a 6-day recess on Jan 3rd. NBC reported that the bombing was carried out based on the information that "Mr. Bin Laden might be hiding in the area. A U.S. radio-controlled reconnaissance plane found a convoy array similar to the guard pattern for bin Laden in the area."

Agreed to Hand over Omar?: the governor of Kandahar said that "Taliban commander Abdul Ahad promised to hand over Omar and let his 1500 troops to surrender if the U.S. stops bombing."

The negotiations began on Dec. 31st last year and the negotiation team of the Afghan interim government is adjusting the details of the final agreement with the Taliban. Previously, the negotiation team issued an ultimatum to the Taliban that they would resume attacks if the Taliban do not surrender by the 5th.

A Skeptical U.S.: the spokesperson of the U.S. Defense Secretary expressed his skepticism saying, "It would be an extraordinary jump if you trust that the negotiation to arrest Omar is on the way."

Since Omar had escaped through the surroundings lands in Kandahar, taking advantage of the surrender negotiation, the negotiation at this time might be a tactic to earn more time to escape. The Al Qaeda drill book instructs that "if defeat seems determined, hide as many members as possible in a safe place."

Meanwhile, in terms of the rising importance of Omar in the final stages of the war, some analysts believe that the U.S. picked him as an alternative focus in place of bin Laden who has disappeared.

lailai@donga.com