KABUL, Jan. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzaihas invited Taliban's elusive leader Mullah Mohammad Omar for talks to end militancy and further boost reconciliation policy in the war-torn country, a Kabul-based radio reported Monday.

    "If he wants to come he should get in touch with us," Radio Liberty quoted the president as saying.

    The president extended the olive branch on the eve of Eidul Adha, the biggest annual religious festival, amid increasing Taliban-linked militancy in the rugged southern region.

    It is the first time that the Afghan head of state has invited Taliban leader who is the most wanted man in the United States for talks.

    Late last year while the President announced an amnesty for the Taliban militias and called on them to lay down arm and join the peace process, he had exempted 150 high-ranking Taliban leaders including Omar.

    Omar, whose fundamentalist regime was ousted by U.S.-led military campaign in late 2001, had termed the amnesty as a ploy to split the Taliban movement and called his loyalists to continue Jihad or holy war till the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. Enditem