Efforts to avert US military strikes on Afghanistan took a step backward today when the ruling Taliban told Pakistani- Islamic clerics they would not bow to US pressure to extradite Osama bin Laden.
"The Taliban clearly said there was no question of handing over Osama bin Laden, on moral or religious grounds," said pro-Taliban cleric Mufti Mohammad Jamil after his return to Pakistan.
Mr Jamil was part of a 10-member Pakistani delegation, comprised mostly of religious leaders, that met with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in the militia's southern stronghold of Kandahar.
"Omar said the United States should not insist on the bin Laden issue," he said, adding the Taliban leader had indicated "positive discussions" could only take place once the United States ended "excesses against Afghan Muslims".
The delegation was accompanied by Pakistani military intelligence chief General Mahmood Ahmed.
Washington has blamed bin Laden, who has lived under the Taliban's wing in Afghanistan since 1996, for the attacks on New York and Washington which killed some 6,000 people.
Although Mr Jamil said the Pakistani religious leaders "agreed" with Omar, there were no details about what message Pakistan's powerful military intelligence chief delivered.
Earlier today, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman Mr Riaz Mohammad Khan said the clerics had gone with their own agenda, and stressed Ahmed was carrying no new proposals from Islamabad.
"Our main purpose was to discuss the possibility of averting any attacks, because Pakistan has a stake in this," Mr Jamil said of the delegation's mission.
Pakistan has insisted it is not trying to negotiate with the Taliban or mediate between the militia and the United States, but has warned them of the consequences of ignoring the demands of the international community.
Among the clerics on the Pakistan delegation was Nizammudin Shamazai, head of one of the largest Islamic seminaries in Karachi and a former tutor of several Taliban leaders. He is believed to be very close to Omar.
AFP