Pakistan asks Afghan ambassador to stop propaganda against third country

By MUNIR AHMAD
Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan has told the Taliban ambassador – the most visible spokesman of the Islamic militia that rules Afghanistan – to stop using the embassy for propaganda after a series of internationally broadcast news conferences, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef was called to the ministry Tuesday and advised not to use his embassy against any third country, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said. "We felt the need to remind him" of the diplomatic rules, he said. "He heard it, and that's it."

In frequent news conferences at the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, the Taliban's only diplomatic representation abroad, Zaeef has accused the United States of "terrorism" and "genocide" in the bombing of Afghanistan. He has held no news conferences since the meeting at the Foreign Ministry.

It was unclear whether Pakistan ordered Zaeef to stop all news conferences or simply refrain from certain subjects. His news conferences have been televised internationally by CNN, and excerpts appeared in media around the world.

An official of the Afghan embassy, speaking on condition of anonymity Wednesday, said Zaeef has been asked to reduce his public pronouncements.

Khan said an embassy has many functions besides holding news conferences.

President Bush launched the attacks on Afghanistan on Oct. 7 after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that killed more than 4,000 people in the United States.

In one news conference this week, Zaeef said Pakistan was contributing to the suffering of the Afghan people by refusing to allow all Afghan refugees to take refuge in this country.

Despite some domestic opposition, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has sided with the United States in its campaign against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement.

Pakistan, which had been the Taliban's strongest ally, has allowed the U.S. military to use its airspace and some bases for the air campaign against Afghanistan. It is also sharing intelligence.

APNP-11-07-01 0850CST