No more business with Taliban, says Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 19. Pakistan declared here today that it no longer recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan on the ground that its Government has collapsed.

Addressing a news conference here, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, maintained that though there was no formal announcement of de-recognition of the Taliban, Islamabad was no longer doing business with the militia.

At the same, he said, Islamabad has no intention of asking the Taliban to wind up its embassy or ask its envoy, Mullah Abdul Saleem Zaeef, to leave the country. Mr. Sattar said that as per diplomatic norms, Pakistan would continue to accord immunity and privileges to the Taliban envoy though his Government had collapsed.

``We don't have relations, we don't conduct business between the Government of Pakistan and whatever is left of the Taliban Government. But relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue and they will be maintained according to our best intentions,'' he said.

The Minister said Pakistan would like to wait for a clearer picture to emerge before taking any decision on recognising a setup in Afghanistan. Mr. Sattar pointed out that the United Nations had not recognised any Government in Afghanistan and the question of Pakistan recognising the Rabbani Government did not arise.

``The United Nations' resolution is very clear. It does not recognise any Government at this juncture in Kabul and intends to set up a provisional transitional administration that would lead to a broad-based and multi-ethnic setup'', Mr. Sattar said.

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