Ambassador's new 'plan' offers no compromises

In a further sign of confusion within the Taliban leadership, the Afghan regime's ambassador to Pakistan announced a new "plan" for peace, only to restate his government's uncompromising position a few hours later.

"I have brought a plan with me," Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef told reporters at the south-western town of Quetta, after returning from a week-long trip to the Taliban headquarters in the Afghan city of Kandahar. "I will discuss it with Pakistani officials and disclose it afterwards."

But later, after he had returned to Islamabad, he insisted that his government had no intention of handing over Osama bin Laden, and was united in its determination to resist the US-British assault. "The issue of Osama has not changed," Mr Zaeef said. "It is a matter of our faith – we might as well change our faith."

It has been a week of baffling rumours and contradictory statements in Afghan diplomacy, ever since Mr Zaeef's sudden departure for Kandahar eight days ago. He is the Taliban's only foreign ambassador, and is regarded as being close to the regime's supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Early last week, local newspapers and foreign diplomats in Islamabad spoke of a clandestine visit to Pakistan by the moderate foreign minister, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil.

But Mr Zaeef denied that Mr Muttawakil had ever left Afghanistan, and insisted that there had been no change in Kabul's position. "This is absolutely false," the ambassador said after his arrival in Islamabad. "He has not been to Pakistan. Our government is strong and united.

"There is no rift within the Taliban," he continued. "Muttawakil is in Kandahar. He can die but he cannot defect. The government has com- plete control. There is no difference, nor any problem within the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan."

Reports from the front line north of Kabul indicated last night that Taliban forces were mounting a counter-attack against the forces of the Northern Alliance. Mr Zaeef denied that there was any dwindling in his government's military strength.

"We know this is going to be a long war," he said. "Our technique is that of patience, to use patience to fight our enemies. Our military capability has not been destroyed. We have had a number of casualties in the military field, but our military is still strong. Most importantly, this is a war of beliefs and our faith is very strong."

Mr Zaeef said the American-led air attacks were exacting a toll on civilians, and accused Washington of making this a deliberate policy.

"The majority of targets have been civilian, hurting innocent civilian people. America is aiming at Afghan people, and the world can see this for themselves."