ISLAMABAD The Taleban ambassador to Pakistan met with his British counterpart here on Friday for talks which centered on suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden, Muslim militants and narcotics, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.
The meeting between Taleban envoy Abdul Salam Zaeif and the British High Commissioner, Hilary Synott, lasted three hours, the Pakistan-based private Afghan news service said.
"We have assured the British ambassador that there is no terrorist camp in Afghanistan," AFP quoted Zaeif as telling AIP.
Regarding suspected terrorist Bin Laden, Zaief reiterated that the wealthy Saudi dissident cannot be prosecuted unless they find evidence which supports his alleged involvement in U.S.
terrorist attacks.
The Taleban envoy further said Bin Laden was living in Afghanistan as a guest and the ruling Afghan militia had imposed restrictions on his activities.
"He cannot use our soil against any country," Zaeif added.
The Taleban envoy also admitted that an unspecified number of Arab nationals were living in Afghanistan, but added "They sought asylum after participating in the jihad (holy war)" against the 1979-89 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
"They are living in our country as refugees like many other homeless people sheltered elsewhere in the world," Zaeif said, adding that his meeting with the British envoy was "useful." No comments were immediately available from British Embassy officials.
Zaeif's meeting with his British counterpart came a week after his talks with U.S. Ambassador William B. Milam in Islamabad on Afghanistan's concerns about the possibility of a U.S. strike against Bin Laden.
The meetings indicate that the U.S. and Britain who have been supporting the Taleban movement covertly, are now clearly backing the militia.