Pak. not to follow UAE

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 22. Pakistan today said it had no intentions of following the example of the UAE and snapping its diplomatic ties with the Taliban.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman offered an elaborate explanation as to why his Government had no intention to take the cue from UAE. He argued that the main embassy of Taliban in Islamabad served as a useful window to the rest of the world to Afghanistan and vice-versa.

``The presence of Taliban Embassy provides an opportunity to its representatives to listen to what the rest of the world expects from them. It also serves the rest of the world in knowing the Taliban viewpoint. Historically, even during the period of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Pakistan always maintained its mission in Kabul'', he said.

The spokesman said Afghanistan being a land-locked country depended for transit trade and some of its food requirements on Pakistan. He, however, said following the September 11 tragedy, Pakistan had thinned down its staff from the Kabul mission.

He once again appealed to the Taliban to give a serious thought to the gravity of the situation arising out of the September 11 incidents and take quick action on the recommendation of the religious clerics to encourage Osama bin Laden to leave Afghanistan voluntarily.

The spokesman, reiterating that Islamabad was not engaged in any negotiations with the Taliban, said the U.S. had not yet discussed details of any proposals for action on Osama. He said a team was expected to visit Islamabad from Washington and it was not clear at this juncture about its composition.

He denied reports in a section of the press that Pakistan was bargaining for certain political and economic benefits from the U.S. in return for its support against the Taliban regime. The spokesman said the IMF was expected to consider the requests of Pakistan for loan and assistance on softer terms in the normal course.

Asked if Pakistan expected the U.S. to share evidence against Osama before launching any military action against him and the Taliban, the spokesman said like the rest of the world, Pakistan expected the evidence to be shared and any action within the framework of the United Nations Security Council.

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Section  : International
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