US DELEGATION MEETS TALIBAN LEADERS IN KABUL

ISLAMABAD (NNI) A US delegation met with Taliban leaders in Kabul and urged them to agree on the establishment of a broad-based government in Afghanistan, diplomatic sources said Friday. The delegation, comprising Islamabad and Peshawar-based American officials, made it clear to them that the US administration could not recognise their government and renewed its demand for the establishment of a broad-based government, the sources said. The US officials also conveyed their regrets over Taliban policies towards women and asked them to remove ban from female education. The sources said that Taliban leadership complained to the United States that despite controlling two-third of Afghanistan, Washington was not according them recognition. Taliban called upon the US delegation to take notice of the Iranian, Indian and Russian interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. Diplomatic sources are attaching importance with the US officials' meeting with Taliban, describing the move as a step towards softening the American stand towards the Islamic militia.However, they ruled out immediate recognition to Taliban administration in the prevailing circumstances.