The Taliban militia was on a collision course with the international community Saturday after the United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution against "terrorists" and the states that harbor them.
As fears of US military strikes grew among ordinary Afghans, the militia denied reports that it had arrested three US commandos and two Afghans holding US citizenship near the western border with Iran.
The US "special forces" were captured on Afghan territory "in possession of weapons and maps of locations of the Al-Qaeda organization" of Osama bin Laden, Qatar's Al-Jazeera TV reported.
But the Islamic militia's ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, insisted that no foreign soldier had even entered Afghanistan.
"This is propaganda meant to malign the Taliban and create an impression that the Taliban are trying to bargain over Osama bin Laden," Zaeef told the Afghan Islamic Press.
"The report about the arrest of the three American soldiers is absolutely baseless. We have not arrested anyone."
US President George W. Bush said Friday Washington was in "hot pursuit" of bin Laden, the "guest" of the Taliban who has been accused of masterminding the September 11 suicide hijackings that claimed more than 6,000 lives in New York and Washington.
Pakistan also denied knowledge of the reported US incursions and foreign ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan rejected speculation that US ground forces were operating against Afghanistan from its territory.
The only country to maintain diplomatic ties with the Taliban, Pakistan has offered its "full cooperation" with the US-led war on terrorism, but so far it insists Washington has only sought the use of airspace, logistics and intelligence.
As the UN Security Council resolved to tighten international law against "terrorists" and their state sponsors, there were growing signs the Afghan people were also losing patience with the Taliban and its refusal to expel Arab extremists allied to Saudi dissident bin Laden.
Village elders were reportedly meeting in various provinces Saturday to ask the Taliban's Arab "guests" -- who allegedly use Afghanistan as a training base for "holy wars" around the world -- to leave their communities in peace.
The reports in Pakistani dailies quoted Afghan sources as saying meetings of local elders, or Loya Jirgas, were being held in some eastern provinces in a sign of mounting dissatisfaction with Taliban rule.
Fear of US reprisal attacks has driven thousands of Afghans from their homes, prompting warnings by aid agencies of a looming humanitarian disaster.
The first humanitarian shipments from Pakistan to Afghanistan since the terrorist attacks on the United States left Saturday on a tortuous journey by truck and donkey.
Taliban leader Mullah Mohammar Omar has refused to buckle under the pressure of international isolation, possible US attacks and the worsening humanitarian situation.
"It is possible that those who help [the United States] from the inside or outside be considered enemies," the reclusive Omar told the Iranian Entekhab daily.
Anti-Taliban forces clinging to pockets of territory in the north have offered their full support to US forces, but complain that so far their help has not been sought.
Senior opposition officials left Afghanistan Saturday for talks in Italy with the exiled former king, Zahir Shah, on possibilities for a new, broad-based government to replace the Taliban regime.
"We are ready for talks with all Afghan factions, not only the king," Abdullah Abdullah, acting foreign minister in the opposition government, told AFP.
Earlier Saturday the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously agreed on a sweeping resolution which obliged all member states to deny financing, support and safe harbor for terrorists.
The resolution, adopted after just 24 hours of deliberations, requires all governments to report to the Security Council within 90 days on steps taken to comply -- KABUL (AFP)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
