Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar urged his fighters to avoid civilian casualties amid a rising toll of insurgent killing in a message released on the Taliban's website Friday.

Omar was also quoted as saying he believed conflicts such as the decade-long Afghan war were resolved by "realisation and understanding," while again urging the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The United States and other nations fighting the war say combat operations will not cease until the end of 2014, and a substantial training and mentoring mission for Afghan forces will remain after that.

"Do not wrongly pester and daunt anyone by the barrel of the gun," the English language statement in Omar's name said. "The mujahedeen have to take every step to protect the lives and wealth of ordinary people." The statement, issued to mark Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, warned of punishments under Islamic sharia law for fighters responsible for civilian deaths.