FBI says Mullah Omar never figured in its most wanted list

From Lalit K Jha Washington/Islamabad, Dec 28 (PTI) Afghan-Taliban's secretive head Mullah Omar's name as been "quietly removed" from the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists, Pakistani media has claimed, prompting the US investigative agency to clarify that he had never figured in its list. Mullah Omar, who ruled Afghanistan during the Taliban regime in mid-90s, was never on the FBI's most wanted list but continued to be on a list of the State Department, which has declared "up to USD 10 million" on his head. "So there is no question of him being removed from our list," said a spokesman for FBI, which maintains a list of most wanted terrorists responsible for attacks inside the US. His remarks came when asked about news reports appearing in Pakistani media that one-eyed Mullah Omar's name has been quietly removed from the most wanted terrorist list of the US. Amid claims and counter-claims about Mullah Omar's name in the FBI list, The Express Tribune newspaper, which originally reported about the removal of his name from the FBI list, has pulled the story from its website. According to 'The Atlantic' magazine, "the story originated in the Pakistani media with reports like the one from Pakistan-based (and The New York Times-owned) The Express Tribune, where we first heard the news." It also noted that The Express Tribune has "unceremoniously" pulled its story from its website. Speculation was earlier rife about Mullah Omar's removal from the list given that the US was reportedly holding talks with the Taliban. While FBI clarified that he never figured in its list, Mullah Omar continued to be on the State department's Reward for Justice (RFJ) programme list. MORE