Taliban number two arrives in Pakistan for important talks

Monday, January 31 7:01 PM SGT

ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (AFP) - The second most senior figure in Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime arrived here Monday for a two-day visit expected to focus on relations with Pakistan and the conflict in the war-torn state.

Mulla Mohammad Rabbani, head of the council of ministers in Kabul, is leading an 18-member delegation of Taliban officials who will hold talks with Pakistani leaders.

Rabbani's visit comes hard on the heels of Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel's trip to Islamabad last week.

Rabbani drove across the border into northwest Pakistan because of United Nations sanctions banning external flights of Afghanistan's Ariana airlines. He later left by road for Islamabad.

The military government in Pakistan has pledged to promote a negotiated settlement to the conflict between the Taliban, who control most of Afghanistan, and the opponents of the Islamic militia.

During the Taliban foreign minister's visit last week, Pakistan pressed for "urgent measures" for the establishment of peace in Afghanistan through dialogue and reconciliation.

The high-level contacts come ahead of the arrival here on February 3 of United Nations secretary general's new personal representative to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell.

Accompanying Rabbani are Mawlawi Abdurraqib, Minister of Refugees Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Latif Mansoor, Minister of Agriculture, Mawlawi Yar Mohammad Rahimi, Minister for Communications and other officials.

On Sunday, Taliban information minister Mulla Qudratullah Jamal told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual concern.

Jamal denied reports that the issue of suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden may be discussed during the visit.

Neither bin Laden nor any proposal for talks between the Taliban and their opponents are on the agenda, Jamal told the Pakistan-based agency from Kabul.

The United States wants bin Laden to be expelled from his Afghan sanctuary so he can be arrested and tried for allegedly masterminding the 1998 twin bombings of American embassies in East Africa.

The Taliban has refused the US demand and also rejected pressure by the UN which imposed financial and aviation sanctions against the Islamic militia in November after it refused to hand over bin Laden.

Pakistan and Iran agreed to coordinate efforts on promoting peace between the warring Afghan sides when Pakistani military ruler General Musharraf Pervez visited Tehran in early December.

The News daily, quoting an unidentified official, said prospects for peace in Afghanistan would be discussed.

The two sides are also expected to dicuss the bin Laden issue and growing US pressure for his expulsion, the widely respected newspaper said.

Since seizing Kabul in September 1996 the Taliban have been fighting a bitter war against opposition forces in the country's northeast.

Only Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have recognized Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Iran still recognises ousted former president Burhanuddin Rabbani.