KARACHI, March 2: The counsel-general of Afghanistan, Abdul Muqtadir, on Wednesday denied that Mullah Umar and Osama bin Laden were in Afghanistan and claimed that there was no supportive base for Taliban who were not only depositing their weapons but also surrendering themselves.

He was talking briefly to media on the sidelines of the two-day international workshop on Afghanistan. He pointed out that although Taliban were not in power, the government was negotiating with them to bring about national reconciliation.

The consul-general also appreciated Pakistan's role in the reconstruction of his country and in this context recalled the 100 million dollar aid given by President Musharraf to Afghanistan.

He said that Gen Dostum had been inducted in Karazi dispensation as assistant army chief and not the army chief. The counsel-general said that Rashid Dostum would be bound to follow President Karzai's orders.