October 11, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 23, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef has dismissed the claims of President Bush that air defence system of Afghanistan had been destroyed in three days of air raids.

“The American claim that they have destroyed the defence capability of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not true,” Zaeef told a press conference here on Wednesday.

The Afghan envoy said that Mulla Omar and Osama bin Laden were safe and healthy.

About the reports of victory march by the Northern Alliance forces towards Kabul, he said it was a mockery of facts as the opposition neither had popular support in the country nor had the capability to advance on us.

However, the Afghan envoy expressed ignorance about reports that the Taliban authorities had lifted restrictions on the movements of Osama bin Laden.

He said people in Afghanistan burned food packages dropped by the US planes as a sign of hatred to American policies.

The envoy refused to confirm reports about landing of US commandos in Afghanistan.

Mulla Zaeef said: “A letter had been sent to the OIC ahead of its meeting requesting it to play due role in getting the US bombings on Afghanistan halted and finding out a negotiated settlement.”

He dismissed the reports of desertion by several Taliban commanders in the last couple of days.

To a question about fate of eight foreigners facing trial for preaching Christianity, he said: “Four lawyers have left for Kabul to defend them in court as it was up to the Shariat court to decide their fate.”

About the arrest of a French journalist by the Taliban administration, he said: “It was premature to suggest whether he was a journalist or a spy as France was on record to have announced to send its spy teams into Afghanistan.”

The Afghan envoy dismissed as mere propaganda reports about cutting off supply line with Mazar-i-Sharif. He said a large number of journalists had even reported fall of Mazar-i-Sharif.

About reported influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan, he said there were about three million Afghan refugees already in Pakistan and more could may shift their families to save them from bombings.