Meeting Omar to Discuss the Issue of Locating Bin Laden

Pakistan delegates arrived in Afghanistan on the 17th and entered into discussions with the purpose of persuading Afghanistan`s Taliban government to hand over Bin Laden and delivering America`s final message.

▽ Content of Negotiation:

America`s final message delivered by the Pakistan delegates states that should the government fail to hand over Bin Laden within three days, a large scale attack by American along with the West is inevitable. The delegates did not guarantee that America would not attack when bin Laden is delivered, but they did make it clear that should the government fail to deliver bin Laden, a massive attack is certain. The delegates also informed the government that the attack will begin as early as this weekend. The delegates also assured them that should they hand over Bin Laden and his followers, and destroy their camps, then the Taliban government will be able to maintain their government without further intervention.

▽ The Composition Of The Delegates:

The delegates comprised of six people who were officials from Pakistan`s highest military intelligence institute (ISI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The leadership was given to the director of ISI, Mehumud Ahumed, who was considered to be one of the most influential men in the Pakistani government. AFP communication reported on the 17th that Ahumed, who was visiting Washington on the 11th when terror broke out, will doubtlessly present a detailed explanation of the terror tragedy to the Afghanistan authorities. The New York Times reported that, ``The ISI which have been keeping a close eye on the activities of the Taliban government knew of the hiding place of Bin Laden just before the terror attack. However, it no longer has information concerning his whereabouts.``

▽ Negotiation Party:

The delegates who arrived in Afghanistan on the morning of the 17th, proceeded directly to a strategic region in the south called Qandahar, which was the headquarter of the Taliban government and also considered the hiding place of bin Laden. Shortly after their arrival, the delegates had a discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wakil Ahumed Mutawakel followed by a meeting with the actual leader of Taliban, Mula Mohammed Omar, to whom was delivered America`s final message. The delegates also met with the Minister of National Defense, Mohammed Hasan, after which they visited the capital Kabul in order to meet with main Afghan authorities and persuade them.

▽ Prospect For Negotiation:

On the 17th, Pakistani diplomatic sources did not anticipate the Taliban to accept the final message delivered by the Pakistani delegates and hand over Bin Laden. According to the 17th report of MSNBC, an anonymous high-level authority of Pakistan stated that, ``If the Taliban government had decided to deliver Bin Laden, it would have done so long time ago. There is little to believe that the Taliban government would change its mind through the negotiation.``

The Wall Street Journal observed that, ``It is likely that Pakistan will present a compromise deal in order to persuade the Taliban government to deliver Bin Laden to a third Muslim country where he will be judged before a Muslim court.``

▽ America`s Pressure On Pakistan:

According to the New York Times report on the 17th, in her effort to receive positive intermediary effort from Pakistan, America is warning Pakistan of the heavy price she will have to pay should she not cooperate with America. This paper also stated that, ``In exchange for debt cancellation and guarantee of security offered by America, Pakistan President Perebez Musharaf has not only allowed access to her airspace and ground base, but have also agreed to allow full access to Pakistani intelligence network and gas provision for American fighter jets.``

Pakistan accepted America`s request to stop the bypassing of products through her territory into Afghanistan. As a result of this action, about one hundred million dollars worth of goods purchased by Afghanistan will be stopped short in various places in Pakistan such as the Karachi port. Afghanistan is in reality now placed under economic blockade.

mickey@donga.com