Pakistan says it no longer holds relations with Taliban, but won't expel ambassador

By AMIR ZIA
Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan said Monday that it no longer does business with the Taliban but will not expel its ambassador for the time being.

"We don't conduct business between the government of Pakistan and whatever is left of the Taliban government," Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told a news conference.

"But relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue and they will be maintained according to our best intentions."

There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.

Pakistan had been the Taliban's closest ally and the only country to recognize the militia after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates severed ties after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Although Pakistan too called back all its diplomats from Afghanistan, it allowed the Taliban ambassador, Abdul Salam Zaeef, to remain in Islamabad.

Relations continued after Pakistan dropped its backing of the hard-line Islamic movement and sided with the United States in its bombing campaign in Afghanistan.

While the Taliban embassy remains open, Taliban consulates in the northern border city of Peshawar and the southwestern border city of Quetta have been ordered closed, a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.

But on Monday, there was business as usual at both the consulates.

Earlier this month, Pakistan closed the Taliban consulate in Karachi because of its alleged involvement in anti-American demonstrations.

It also told the Taliban ambassador to stop holding his almost daily news conferences at the embassy in the capital.

AP-WS-11-19-01 1815EST