ISI Chief Gen Mehmood To Lead Six-Member Pak Team to Kabul

The Press Trust of India
September 17, 2001


Pakistan has deputed Chief of Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Mehmood Ahmed to lead a six-member delegation to go to Afghan city of Kandahar Monday to hold crisis talks with the Taliban leadership and prevail on them to hand over Osama bin Laden, even as Pakistan and Taliban borders forces took up position to face any eventuality.

Reports in the local media quoting officials here Monday said Pakistan decided to make a last ditch effort by sending a six-member delegation led by ISI Chief to persuade the Taliban leadership not to sacrifice 25 million people for the sake of one person.

Reports in the international media has said that the delegation would give a three-day deadline to Afghanistan's ruling militia to hand over Osama, but there was no official confirmation about it. Mehmood, who leaves Monday, would meet the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. Mehood's visit coincides with the emergency meeting of Islamic scholars convened by Omar on Monday to decide about the demand to hand over bin Laden. Omar is going to issue a fatwa asking muslims to launch jehad, reports from Kabul said.

The Pakistan delegation to Kabul consisted of Aziz Khan, Additional Secretary Foreign Affairs, who also previously served in Afghaistan as Pakistan's Ambassador.

The delegation is carrying a clear message from the US that Taliban leadership had no other alternative but to hand over Osama, prime suspect in Tuesday's attacks in American cities, the Dawn newspaper said adding the delegation is also handed some evidence of his involvement in the attacks.

It is significant that the Pakistan Government is deputing the ISI Chief, who has returned from Washington this weekend after a hectic round of talks with American officials on the nature of the US-PAK military co-operation to deal with Taliban in the light of its refusal to hand over Osama.

The Taliban is repeatedly demanding evidence from US about Osama's involvement.

According to officials, the delegation has a one point agenda, "to ask the Taliban hand over the Saudi dissident or face the wrath of the whole world".

The newspaper also reported that both Pakistan and Taliban security forces took up positions at the Pak-Afghan border at Torakam as tension raised following war-like preparations on both sides. Taliban has threatened to attack any neighbouring Muslim country if it assisted US to launch attacks on it.

The Taliban border guards have installed 12.7 MM anti-aircraft guns close to Pakistan border, almost near the main gates of the checkpoint.

Pakistan's paramilitary forces, the Kyber Riffles, which man the border have also taken up positions, it said.

Meanwhile, another newspaper The Nation quoted an official of the Pakistan's delegation to Kandahar as saying that "it is very complex situation. We can not say what will be the outcome. The Pakistan delegation expects this to be a one day trip but would extend stay for a few days if necessary," the officials told the newspaper.


Copyright 2001 The Press Trust of India

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