Taliban warn US against killing, arresting Laden

KABUL, Jan 22: The Taliban militia in Afghanistan has warned the United States of a serious reaction if terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden was killed or arrested, official Radio Shariat said Friday, reports AFP.

A senior Taliban official, Mulla Amir Khan Muttaqi, made the comment to US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Karl Inderfurth and Michael Sheehan, State Department Couter-Terrorism Coordinator, Thursday in Islamabad, the station added.

He said if bin Laden was killed or arrested there would be a serious reaction by his supporters.

But Muttaqi also told the US officials bin Laden posed no threat while he was in Taliban hands.

"There is not doubt that we also want a solution to the issue of Osama, but we would like to assure you that he will not operate against you as long as he is in our hands," Muttaqi was quoted as telling the US officials.

"If he is captured or killed there will big reactions. Therefore, his stay in Afghanistan is in your interest."

"Because his supporters are not acting against the US now due to this fear that that will bring harm to Osama," he said.

Muttaqi also accused the United States of turning bin Laden into a hero of Islam.

"Concerning Osama, we should say that he was a small personality. But because of your persistence, he has become not only a big personality, but also a Muslim world hero," Radio Shariat reported the Taliban's former information minister as saying.

Muttaqi, who is now chief of the militia's council of ministers administrative affairs, said the Taliban were keen on an immediate solution to the issue.

"We are very keen to solve this issue, but I have to add that every country has its own culture, history and principles," he said.

He asked Washington to exercise patience in this respect as the issue required "deep thought".

"You should convey our concern to the American authorities to realise our problems. Otherwise the issue will further aggravate and turn into a problem of the nations," the Taliban official said.

Earlier Friday the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), quoting a Taliban official statement about Thursday's talks, said the ruling militia had repeated a call to the United States to resolve the issue of bin Laden through negotiations.