Pakistan Cuts the Taliban Loose; Closes Embassy

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

Pakistan Cuts the Taliban Loose: Complying with US 
'Request,' Closes Embassy in Islamabad


Thursday November 22, 5:46 PM - (AFP via Yahoo Singapore)

Pakistan to close Taliban embassy: official

Pakistan has decided to close the Taliban's embassy in Islamabad,
cutting the militia's last formal diplomatic contact with the world,
the foreign ministry announced.

Spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said Pakistan had been cutting back the
Taliban's missions as the Islamic militia progressively lost control
of Afghanistan.

"It is a subject that has been under discussion in our foreign
office, and you know that we have been taking steps keeping the
realities on the ground in mind," Khan said.

"Yesterday a decision was taken to close the embassy in Islamabad,"
he said, adding Pakistan would review Afghanistan's representation
here once a broad-based government was installed in Kabul.

The move completes Pakistan's progressive disengagement from the
Taliban. Pakistan was the last country to recognize the regime before
the Islamic militia became a prime target in the US war on terrorism.

Government sources said Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar informed the
cabinet of the decision to close the Taliban embassy during its
meeting Wednesday under the chairmanship of President Pervez
Musharraf.

The United States said Wednesday it had asked Pakistan to close the
Taliban embassy and expel the militia's diplomats because their
presence was no longer "useful."

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the request had been
made after eight western aid workers, including two Americans,
detained by the Taliban in Kabul were freed and then rescued by US
troops last week.

Pakistan said Monday that Islamabad no longer recognised the Taliban
government but had not severed diplomatic relations in the absence of
an alternative and legitimate authority.

A day later, the government closed the Taliban consulates in Peshawar
and Quetta but postponed a decision on the Islamabad embassy.

At the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington, only three countries had diplomatic links with the
Taliban regime.

The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia severed their ties in
October, leaving Pakistan standing alone.
 
=================================================================
  NY Transfer News Collective   *   A Service of Blythe Systems 
           Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us          
              339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012             
  http://www.blythe.org                  e-mail: nyt@blythe.org 
=================================================================
 
nytas-11.22.01-06:01:18-26333