Contact no recognition, Taliban told

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MARCH 20. The Bush administration has made it clear that contacts between the Taliban and ``working level'' officials of the State Department did not mean recognition of that outfit.

``The meetings don't imply any recognition of the Taliban. We don't recognise any government in Afghanistan,'' said the spokesman, Mr. Richard Boucher. He was commenting on the meeting between an Envoy of the Taliban, Mr. Ramatullah Hashemi, and officials at the State Department on Monday.

Mr. Ramatullah who met officials at the Pakistan- Afghanistan- Bangladesh and Counter Terrorism desk had apparently brought a letter addressed to the President, Mr. George W Bush, calling for improved relations and continued dialogue. ``...but it did not contain any specific proposals for addressing the international concerns about terrorism and other issues with Afghanistan - with Taliban,'' Mr. Boucher remarked.

The State Department again told the Taliban on where the U.S. stood on different issues such as terrorism, narcotics and human rights; and stressed that Osama bin Laden who is under indictment must be brought to justice and that the terrorist camps should be shut down.

Mr. Boucher said Mr. Ramatullah did not bring with him any fresh proposal of the Taliban on the trial of Osama bin Laden, or any idea that would meet the requirements of the United Nations Resolutions.

The U.S. along with the rest of the international community had expressed its outrage at the destruction of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan by the Taliban; and on Monday Washington said that it did not buy the explanation of the Taliban that the blowing up of the Buddha statues was done in a pique of anger that a UNESCO delegation would offer money to preserve statues but by and large the international community was ignoring the plight of Afghan people.

``We definitely don't buy this explanation. We and others have provided significant assistance...

The international community has been quite ready and quite willing and quite active in supporting the needs of the Afghan people,'' said Mr. Boucher.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Sharon outlines peace plan
Next     : Mori evasive on NMD