The Taliban has said it is to present proposals to Pakistan aimed at resolving the crisis in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, said his government would not surrender Osama bin Laden and his cohorts to the United States.
"The issue of Osama has not changed. It is a matter of our faith, we might as well change our faith," he said, dismissing US reports that the Taliban defences had been degraded.
"It is a wrong statement that our military capabilities have been destroyed. We have had some casualties but remain strong." he said.
He said on returning to Pakistan from a visit to Afghanistan that he had brought back a plan to try to resolve the crisis that he would discuss with Islamabad.
Pakistan, a one-time close Taliban ally and now a key member of the US-led coalition against terrorism, said last night it was prepared to listen to any proposal from the regime.
Mr Zaeef has spent the last week in Afghanistan where he said he had meetings with the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.
"I have brought a plan with me. I will discuss it with Pakistani officials and disclose it afterwards," he said on arrival back in Pakistan yesterday.
However, a Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said Islamabad had not yet received the proposal that the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan claimed to have.
"So far he has not contacted us to discuss any plan," a spokesman told a news briefing.
"But surely, if he has any proposal, we would be prepared to listen to him."
Mr Zaeef also dismissed reports of rifts in the Taliban.
Speculation about divisions in the movement's ranks surfaced with rumours this week that the Foreign Minister, Mr Maulawi Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, had defected and left Afghanistan.
"There is no rift within the Taliban. Muttawakil is in Kandahar. He can die but he cannot defect," Mr Zaeef said.
He said Mullah Omar and the Taliban were in complete control of the country.
However, he said he had no information about US troops on the ground in Afghanistan.
"But we are ready for them," Mr Zaeef said, echoing the sentiments of many Taliban who say they are waiting impatiently to engage in the conventional ground warfare they have become accustomed to over decades.
Meanwhile, there was high security again in cities throughout Pakistan yesterday as another round of strikes was called by religious groups.
In Peshawar, an estimated 10,000 people turned out for a rally organised by the biggest religious party in the country, Jamiate-I-islami.
The rally passed off peacefully with no trouble reported.