Afghan clerics's edict conveyed to Osama

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 27. Exactly one week after a gathering of clerics in Afghanistan asked the Taliban regime to encourage the man most wanted by the United States, Osama bin Laden, to leave the country voluntarily, the militia today claimed to have succeeded in communicating the message to the Saudi dissident.

The Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Saleem Zaeef, disclosing this here tonight, said the clerics' recommendation had been approved by the Taliban supremo, Mullah Omar. ``Now it is up to Osama to decide, he said.''

The gathering of religious leaders in its recommendation on September 20 urged the Taliban regime to encourage Osama to voluntarily leave Afghanistan at the time of his choosing and to a place of his choice.

Breakthrough unlikely

That the Taliban's decision to deliver the message to Osama is not likely to avert a confrontation between the U.S. and the militia was evident from two factors. First, Mullah Zaeef made it clear that it was entirely up to Osama to take a decision on the recommendation and it was not binding on him. Second, he said the Taliban was not willing to have any compromise with the U.S. on the issue of Osama and his Al Qaeda associates reportedly hiding in Afghanistan.

``No, it is not the tradition of Muslims to compromise,'' was his cryptic reply to a question if the Taliban was ready to negotiate a deal with the U.S. on its demand for the handing over of Osama and access to his alleged terrorist networks inside Afghanistan.

Asked about his earlier statement that Osama has been missing, Mullah Zaeef said, "We have not lost Osama, but he is out of sight of the people". To a question about the attack on the American embassy in Kabul, he said, "The people are very emotional and angry because the United states is sounding threats to attack Afghanistan. The Taliban security forces tried their best to stop the mob from the attack but failed to control the largely attended demonstration."

Team to visit Kandahar?

A silver lining has emerged in the stand-off between the U.S. and the Taliban. A group of religious leaders from Pakistan are said to have decided to visit Kandahar in Afghanistan at the behest of the Musharraf Government. The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), a Peshawar-based news agency, quoted Mullah Zaeef as saying that the delegation would include Pakistani officials as well as religious scholars. He said Mullah Omar had agreed to meet the delegation.

The mission of the delegation was ostensibly to make a last-ditch effort to persuade the Taliban supremo, Mullah Omar, to adopt a "face saving formula" to avoid a bloody conflict in the region.

Leaders of the Council for Defence of Afghanistan, an umbrella outfit of religious parties and groups, denied in the evening that they had any plans to travel to Kandahar unless there was a specific request either from the Government of Pakistan or Afghanistan.

Earlier in the evening, the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, maintained that the Government had no plan to dispatch yet another delegation to the spiritual headquarters of the Taliban.

Solidarity Day

Amidst the confusion over the proposed visit of the religious leaders, the Musharraf Government organised a `Solidarity Day' throughout Pakistan in a bid to mobilise people behind its decision to back the U.S. in its fight against Osama and the Taliban.

By all accounts it was a good show though there was nothing spectacular in terms of crowd turn-out at various rallies and demonstrations presided over by functionaries of the military Government. It was essentially meant to counter the critics of Government policy as well as pro-Taliban elements, in the wake of the September 11 incidents.

The objective of the Government in observing the day was spelt out by the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, while addressing a group of students and political representatives. ``Today our priority should be unity because the country faces a grave situation. We are with the rest of the Islamic world and the international community in the fight against terrorism.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Next     : 3 killed in police firing