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| Taliban Still Firm on Osama Issue |
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FRI, OCT 19, 2001
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Taliban envoy to Pakistan Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef said in Islamabad Friday that there is no change in their policy on the issue of Osama bin Laden.
"The issue of Osama has not changed," he told a press conference held here, saying it is a matter of their faith but not a single issue of Osama bin Laden.
He accused the U.S.-led coalition of targeting innocent civilians in Afghanistan, saying the defense system of the Taliban regime is still strong for fighting against any invasion.
To a question regarding the recent global scare of anthrax, the Taliban envoy said they were totally ignorant of the disease and its possible use as a biological weapon.
"We don't even know what it is," he said.
Earlier, the Taliban told the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that the Taliban forces are ready to fight back should the U.S.-led coalition launch ground strikes against the Muslim regime.
Zaeef refused to give details of his meetings with the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar in Kandahar, saying there is not any " important message" from Omar to the Pakistani authorities, according to the AIP.
The Taliban envoy arrived in Pakistan late Thursday night after a meeting with Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar in Afghanistan.
The United States has offered to reconsider its military strikes on Afghanistan if the Taliban regime hands over Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect for the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
But, the Taliban leaders have rejected the U.S. offer, saying they would consider to hand over Osama bin Laden to a third country if the United States stops air attacks and shows its concrete evidence against Osama.
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