October 23, 2001	Tuesday	Shaba'an 5, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: The Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef, claimed on Monday that the Taliban forces had shot down two US helicopters in the last two days and foiled American commandos’ first attempt to land on Afghan soil.

Speaking at a news conference, which was also attended by a large number of foreign media men, Mulla Zaeef declared:” The Taliban troops will not allow UN peace-keeping forces to enter Afghanistan even if they include troops from any Muslim country, including Turkey”.

The ambassador said that 1,000 innocent Afghan civilians had so far been killed in American air attacks, including men, women and children. “Today,100 people are reported to have been killed,including patients, doctors, nurses and other staffers as a hospital in Herat was bombed,” he said and added that 18 civilian casualties were reported elsewhere.

A US helicopter was shot down in the Registan area of Helmand province, he claimed and added that the occupants of the aircraft, which fell inside Afghanistan, were killed. Another helicopter, which was also hit, had fallen in the Pakistan area, he said.

Mulla Zaeef said the Northern Alliance forces, who were advancing toward Mazar-i- Sharif, had been pushed back and many of them killed and 72 others captured by Taliban troops.

Replying to a question about his meetings with Pakistan officials on his return from Afghanistan, he said :”I have discussed issues pertaining to refugees, Afghan transit trade and other related matters, but nothing else”.

Asked about the purpose of his meetings with various diplomats, Mulla Zaeef said: “We want them to be aware of our position and the realities so that they could convey the same to their governments.”