ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: The United States and its coalition forces are still in action around Kandahar which is still under the control of Taliban but “it is loosening,” said Ambassador Kenton W.Keith, a spokesman for the US-led coalition.

“The situation is fluid,” he said during a daily briefing here on Wednesday, adding that Taliban are loosening the control of Kandahar.

He said during the 48 hours the coalition forces carried out 175 sorties in the areas of Kandahar and Kunduz besides dropping 55,000 packets of human ration.

To a question, Mr Keith said the US coalition was not leading the Northern Alliance in Kunduz. “We are in contact but not commanding them. We are supporting them from air. US has very limited number of troops on ground near Kunduz.”

To a question about whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the spokesman said that he had said yesterday that they could not identify a particular area of 75 kilometres. “Osama could be in one of the several locations.”

About human right violations by Northern Alliance and likelihood of a massacre if it entered Kunduz, the spokesman said: “We are using and would use every mean at our disposal that the Northern Alliance should show the kind of discipline and moderation that it has shown in Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif.”

To a question, he said that the only solution to the Kunduz impasse was the surrender by Taliban. “If they surrender, the things would not happen the way it is feared. We know the negotiations between Northern Alliance and forces/individuals in Kunduz are taking place in the traditional way.”

He further said that they were in touch with Northern Alliance and trying to ensure that whoever surrendered or behaved in Kunduz would be treated according to law and with dignity.

About inclusion of Taliban in Berlin conference, the spokesman said that Taliban were responsible for where “we are today. To make a comparison between the United Front and Taliban is not valid. We need to ensure that future Government in Afghanistan should be broad-based.”

To a question that Rabbani is giving threatening calls since the NA entered Kabul, the spokesman said if you were suggesting that Rabbani should or should not go to Berlin to attend the Afghans’ groups conference that was not for coalition to decide.

“We would say that there is need to include all those who support the idea of broad-based government in Afghanistan,” Ambassador Keith said.

He further said that Taliban for more than two years defied the UN resolutions and theirs was the oppressive and incompetent regime. “The suggestion that Taliban might be invited to Berlin Conference is unimaginable.”

Mr Keith said after 22 years “we hope Afghanistan is on the verge of peace. It was commonly understood that during these years’ total destruction of infrastructure and other economic incompetence of Taliban regime, Afghanistan was now in need of massive assistance to enable its reconstruction, he said.

“We need to help Afghans to create the basis for a stable society, civil discipline, and rule of law. The basic institutions of a civilized society, schools and hospitals need to be built and rebuilt,” he said.—APP