'Pak. studying proof on Osama role in attacks'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 3. Pakistan today said that it had received from the United States ``some more material'' regarding the involvement of Osama bin Laden and his associates in the September 11 attacks on American cities and was in the process of ``studying'' it.

To repeated questions, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, said he had no further comments to offer.

The U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Ms. Wendy J. Chamberlin, had called on the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, on Tuesday and briefed him on the status of the investigations into the attacks but she did not share any evidence with him.

Mr. Khan appeared annoyed when a reporter wanted to know why Pakistan was not convinced of the involvement of Osama when organisations such as NATO and countries like the U.K. had said that the evidence was beyond doubt. ``When we have not received any evidence, how do you expect us to be convinced? Now we have received some material and we are examining it. Before looking into the material, how do you want us to jump the gun'' he asked.

Asked about the statement made by the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Saleem Zaeef, at Quetta on Tuesday seeking negotiations with the U.S., he said it was for the U.S. to respond.

Mullah Zaeef had said that the Taliban was opposed to war and was prepared to hold a dialogue with the U.S. on handing over Osama, provided the Bush Administration shared the evidence against him and his associates.

There was confusion about the nature of discussions between the visiting Italian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Margherita Boniver, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, earlier in the day. In an informal talk with presspersons, the Italian Minister claimed that Gen. Musharraf had asked her to convey to the exiled King of Afghanistan Zahir Shah to send an emissary to Islamabad as soon as possible to discuss the prevailing situation. She also claimed that Pakistan and Italy agreed on the proposal that a U.N.-led force was the best suited to ``de-weaponise'' the warring factions in Afghanistan.

Mr. Khan, however, denied knowledge on both counts. To the best of his knowledge, Ms. Boniver was not in town to facilitate a contact between Islamabad and the exiled king of Afghanistan. Islamabad had been in contact with various people from Afghanistan, including the former King, in its quest along with the U.N. and others like the OIC, for a national reconciliation and the formation of a broad-based government in Afghanistan.

The serious situation on the Afghan refugee front was also discussed. Ms. Boniver conveyed her impressions of the recent visits that had taken place to Italy in connection with the so- called Rome process regarding Afghanistan. She visited an Afghan refugee camp this afternoon before leaving for home.

There are unconfirmed reports that 6,000 Taliban men, armed with heavy weapons including the Scud missiles have taken position in the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan to face any eventuality. A report in the local media said that the Afghan Defence Minister, Maulana Obaidullah, and the East Zone Commander, Abdul Salaam, had met the Ninth Brigade and said they were ready to face any outside aggression.

Another report said that after vacating the Quetta airbase, the PAF airbase in Peshawar had also been vacated and all the equipment had been shifted to the Marir airbase near Chakwal.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Proof shown to me: Jaswant
Next     : Pak. refuses to comment on Advani's statement