Afghanistan’s president, Hamid Karzai, has given his stamp of approval for Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar to seek the presidency in next year’s elections.

Mr. Karzai made clear his views in a German newspaper, The Associated Press reported. In the article, he said his government would allow the Taliban to open a campaign office in Qatar under certain conditions: First, the group had to break ties with al Qaeda. And second, the group had to renounce terrorism, AP reported.

Mr. Karzai told the newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, that the “Taliban also should benefit from” the country’s constitution, and not just non-Taliban Afghanis, AP said.

His specific statement on Mr. Omar, as AP reported: “He can become a candidate for the presidency and give Afghans the opportunity to vote for or against him.”

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