Mullah Dadullah, one of the Taleban’s most senior military commanders, said his Islamic militant group had also offered a reward of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of gold to anyone who killed people responsible for the drawings.

“More than 100 mujahedin (holy warriors) have enlisted to carry out suicide attacks,” the fugitive Dadullah told AFP by telephone from an unknown location.

The targets would be “infidels”, said the commander, who is believed to be close to the Taleban’s wanted leader Mullah Omar.

He added: “The Taleban will give 100 kilograms of gold to one who kills the cartoonist.”

Five kilograms of gold would go to anyone who killed a soldier from Denmark, Germany or Norway - among the countries where the cartoons have appeared.