ISLAMABAD – Afghan Taliban have reportedly asked the Ulemas or religiousclerics of Pakistan to boycott the upcoming international conference of thereligious scholars on Afghanistan.

The group has reportedly sent a letter to the prominent Pakistani Ulemasincluding the chairman of the Pakistani Ulema Council Mawlana Tahir Ashrafiin this regard.

The Daily Times newspaper in a report stated that a copy of the message hasbeen received by the outlet which states that “Our message to the noblescholars is that they avoid participation in such gatherings and do notafford an opportunity to the invading infidels in Afghanistan to misusetheir name and participation as means of attaining malicious objectives.”

Maulna Tahir Ashrafi has also confirmed to Daily Times that he had receivedthe invitation, but he would skip the event because of other commitments.

He, however, said that clerics associated with his organisation supportedpeace everywhere in the world, the paper stated.

This comes as efforts are underway to end the ongoing violence throughreconciliation and an international conference will be hosted by Indonesiawhere the Ulemas from the Islamic countries are expected to declare theirstance regarding the ongoing Taliban-led war in Afghanistan.