Force won't work: Taliban

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 21. Confrontation between the United States and the Taliban appears inevitable as the latter today categorically rejected the four demands of the U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, seeking the handing over of Osama bin Laden and access to the hideouts of the Al-Quida in Afghanistan.

The Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Saleem Zaeef, told newspersons that there was no justification in the demands made by Mr. Bush and if the U.S. was bent on use of force to realise its goals, the Taliban would be left with little option but to declare a `jehad' on it.

At the same time, Mullah Zaeef was at pains to emphasise that the Taliban was prepared to discuss the subject with the U.S. if it were to come forward with concrete and credible proof on the alleged involvement of Osama Bin Laden in the crimes cited against him. Curiously, he maintained that the decision of the ulema on Thursday was a mere recommendation and not a fatwa (edict).

``We are willing to cooperate with the U.S. and the rest of the world. But let it be clear that we would never surrender to the enemy and evil. It appears the goal of America is not attack on Afghanistan but several other Muslim countries. It is a crusade against the Islamic world,'' he declared.

When asked if the Taliban considered the decision of the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, to side with the U.S. in its fight against Osama and Taliban as a ``hostile act,'' he said: ``As we look at it, the offer of support made by Pakistan is conditional. Like us they are also asking the U.S. to produce evidence. We do not believe that a friendly country like Pakistan would allow its soil to be used by the Americans to attack Afghanistan.''

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman, on his part, did not wish to react to the Taliban envoy's statement on the demands made by the U.S. President. He issued a brief statement urging the Taliban to take a prompt decision on the recommendation of the religious scholars to encourage Osama to leave Afghanistan voluntarily.

``We hope that the Taliban leadership, keeping in view the gravity of the situation, will take a prompt decision which is in the interest of Afghanistan and its people and which satisfies the concerns and demands of the international community. As a neighbour and friend, Pakistan deeply cares for the welfare of the Afghan people and would not like to see them subjected to new dangers,'' the statement said.

Askedabout the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the Taliban Ambassador maintained that he had no knowledge about where he was at the moment. A section of the Pakistani press has speculated that Osama had left Afghanistan four days ago.

PTI reports:

Osama has ``silently'' left Afghanistan for an undisclosed destination, ahead of a meeting of Afghan Islamic clerics to discuss whether to extradite him, a newspaper here reported today, quoting sources close to the Taliban and a former Minister of Pakistan.

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