Interest in economic stability and investment in mining marks a new approach for the resurgent group, ousted from power in 2001.  

"Afghanistan has vast arable land, rich mines and high potential of energy resources, therefore, we can make investments," Mullah Omar said in a lengthy statement carried by the SITE online monitoring service.  

Such investments would "wrangle ourselves from the tentacles of poverty, unemployment, backwardness and ignorance," the one-eyed reclusive leader said in honor of Eid Al-Fitr.  

Omar also said the ongoing battle against the NATO-led forces would lead to an "imminent victory" for the Taliban. 

NATO is racing against the clock to train Afghanistan's poorly equipped army and police force by the end of 2014, the deadline for US combat troops' exit and when all security responsibilities will be handed over to the Afghans.  

The US and NATO earlier this year reluctantly backed Kabul's peace plan, which involves negotiating with some members of the Taliban. But the extremist group has repeatedly said it will not consider that until all foreigners fighting in its country have left.  

The Taliban's interest in Afghanistan's natural resources coincides with government plans to explore what Kabul says is Asia's largest unmined iron deposit — the 2 billion tonne Hajigak project in the centre of the country.  

But experts warn the bounty from such plans could be decades away with potential investors facing infrastructure, security and corruption hurdles.  

Taking a softer tone than in the past, Omar also said tthe Taliban would ensure the private sector would be safeguarded and that "businessmen will be further encouraged, without any discrimination, to serve their religion and country".