Taliban warns US: 'if hit, we'll strike back' http://www.smh.com.au/news/0109/16/world/world8.html Afghanistan's Taliban regime today warned that its fighters would retaliate with force if any neighbouring country provided assistance to the United States for an attack on Afghanistan, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press reported. "The possibility of a massive attack by our mujahideen (fighters) cannot be ruled out if any neighbouring country offers its ground or air bases to US forces," the agency quoted a Taliban foreign ministry statement as saying. "They might be compelled to enter into that country and responsibility for the negative consequences would rest on that country," it said. The Taliban warning came as Pakistan's government met to consider the extent of its support for any US attack on Afghanistan, aimed at hitting the bases of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, who is suspected of orchestrating this week's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Pakistan subsequently agreed to the full list of US demands for use of its airspace to launch raids and the stationing of a multinational force within its borders. The Taliban statement again denied that bin Laden, who has been sheltered by the Afghan militia for the past five years, could have been involved in the attacks. It warned that any offer of ground or air bases by neighbouring states to facilitate a US military attack would be considered an "encroachment" on the sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan, which would result in a war. President Pervez Musharraf has promised Washington "unstinted co-operation" but active support for US action against Afghanistan faces opposition from within the country's military establishment, which enjoys close links to the Taliban. Pakistani newspapers today reported that the military's core commanders had vetoed granting the United States landing rights in Pakistan to mount any operation into Afghanistan. Diplomats later said Pakistan had agreed to use of its airspace. However, government officials denied that the United States has tabled a specific request of this nature. The president of the European Parliament said yesterday she was profoundly saddened and dismayed by the death of Afghan opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood after a suicide bomb attack a week ago. Nicole Fontaine said she felt the greatest concern for the future of Afghanistan - as Masood's death created an immense void. Fontaine said Masood came to the European Parliament recently to ask for aid to make peace not war - but a peace in freedom, not subservience. The European Parliament's President was cautioning against any retaliatory action on Afghanistan - where prime suspect Osama bin Laden shelters with the ruling Taliban - saying that might harm the Afghan people. Masood's death has been confirmed by ousted president Burhanuddin Rabbani, who blamed the Taliban, Pakistan, and bin Laden. AFP Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
