Washington | Monday
AFGHANISTAN’S defiant Taliban regime has admitted for the first time it was shielding terror suspect Osama bin Laden from US wrath, as Washington warned bluntly it wants the militia out of power.
As Washington ratcheted up preparations for military action, the Taliban also vowed a punishing guerrilla war if his Islamic militia is toppled and threatened retribution against Afghans who join the fight against the besieged regime.
The tough talk came as Washington made its boldest call yet for the Taliban to be stripped of their rule for refusing to surrender bin Laden, who US officials are convinced plotted this month’s murderous attacks on New York and Washington.
“The Taliban organisation has worked in close concert with Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network,” White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card told Fox News on Sunday.
“They cannot be a party to these terrorist acts, and if they’re going to continue to be a party to the terrorist acts, they should not be in power.”
But the top official stopped short of saying the United States would replace the Taliban regime, saying Washington was primarily interested in ridding the world of terrorists and their havens.
In Rome, however, talks were underway between senior US congressmen, Afghan opposition leaders and the 86-year-old deposed Afghan king Mohammed Zahir Shah on the outline of a post Taliban government.
But the Taliban were hanging tough, brazenly acknowledging they know where fugitive bin Laden is, but refusing to hand him over to face justice under the US war on terrorism.
After a week of claiming they had no idea of bin Laden’s whereabouts, the Taliban told a different story on Sunday.
“Osama bin Laden is under the control of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and only security people know where he is,” said Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban envoy in Pakistan.
“He is in Afghanistan, in an unknown place, for his safety and security,” Zaeef told a news conference. “I want to state categorically that Osama bin Laden will not be handed to anyone.”
US reaction was muted. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he had no reason to believe the Taliban, while Card was adamant Washington would not negotiate with the Taliban.
Washington has threatened to strike at the Afghan government unless it hands over bin Laden and followers who have been blamed for the September 11 kamikaze attacks that left nearly 6 000 people dead or missing.
The United States meanwhile braced for the possibility of a renewed terrorist onslaught, this time using chemical or biological weapons as Washington prepares to strike against terrorists.
“We believe there is the likelihood of additional terrorist activity,” Attorney General John Ashcroft told CBS television.
“There is a very serious threat of additional problems now and, frankly, as the US responds, that threat may escalate.”
The White House’s Andrew Card said terrorists were likely to have developed the means of using biochemical weapons and that Washington was arming itself against that threat by stockpiling medication and vaccines.
“I’m not trying to be alarmist, but we know these terrorist organisations … have probably found the means to use biological and chemical warfare,” he said.
A US military force of at least 30 000 men and more than 300 aircraft stood by for a possible operation in southwest Asia, with more reinforcements were on the way, officials said. Two carrier groups were in position and two more en route.
Although US officials gave no indication when they would strike, press reports in London said that US, British and perhaps Australian commandos were already operating in Afghanistan ahead of possible retaliatory attacks.
The Taliban, however, remained unmoved.
Their leader Mullah Mohammad Omar warned that any attempt by the Americans to oust them in favour of the exiled former king would lead to a protracted and bloody guerrilla war.
“You may think it is easy, but the consequences for you will be very severe,” Omar said on Taliban radio in Kabul. “You may capture the airports and the capital and the cities, but people will go to the mountains.”
With the Taliban standing firm against the United States, divisions persisted among US allies whether there was enough solid proof to link bin Laden to the carnage at the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair told BBC television he had seen “absolutely powerful and incontrovertible evidence” of bin Laden’s guilt. He gave no details, citing intelligence concerns.
But Pervez Musharraf, president of Afghanistan’s neighbour Pakistan, said “there is no evidence that has been shared with us as yet. Therefore all I know is from the television.” He said he expected Washington to share unclassified information.
Musharraf told CNN that “hope is very dim” that the Taliban would comply with US demands on them. He again pledged to help the US war on terrorism with intelligence-sharing, overflight rights and logistical support. – AFP