October 18, 2001	Thursday	Rajab 30, 1422

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DOHA, Oct 17: Taliban Finance Minister Aghajan Motasem denied on Wednesday reports that Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil had defected from the Islamic regime and said he was still carrying out his duties.

“I am in contact with Mutawakil who is still carrying out his duties at the head of his ministry,” Motasem told the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite television from Kabul.

“What is being said about an alliance between Mutawakil and leftists or westerners is contrary to his faith and principles,” Motasem added.

Reports had circulated in the past few days about Mutawakil’s arrival with his family to Pakistan, stirring speculation that he had defected.

But on Monday, Pakistan denied Mutawakil’s presence on its soil and his defection.

Mutawakil, viewed as being one of the least extremist politicians within the Taliban movement, has not been recently seen or heard.—AFP