Pakistan says Taliban not terrorists
 
ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Monday it did not, and had never, regarded Afghanistan's ruling Taliban as terrorists and wanted to see a short war waged by the United States in its hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Asked if Pakistan considered the Taliban to be terrorists, Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan said: "No, Taliban are not terrorists. We never regarded them as terrorists."

He said he hoped the U.S.-led war against bin Laden and his Taliban protectors would be short.
"Prolongation of military operations will be a source of concern to us," the spokesman said.

"Because with prolongation you can expect mishaps in which innocent civlian lives can be lost," he said, adding that this would be discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell when he arrives later in the day.