The United States is seeking Pakistan's permission for American investigators to interview up to 12 Pakistani nuclear scientists, who are suspected of having contacts with representatives of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
A source tells EurasiaNet that Pakistani intelligence agents have handed over to US special forces a Yemeni national who is an expert in microbiology and who is suspected of having links with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist organization.
Taliban forces have reportedly killed a top anti-Taliban Afghan commander, who was captured early October 26. The death of Commander Abdul Haq is a severe setback for international efforts to foster a multi-ethnic government to replace the Taliban, according to Pakistani officials.
A team of Pakistani and American intelligence agents are investigating at least two and possibly up to 15 detained foreigners who are suspected of involvement in al Qaeda, the network supported by extremist financier/terrorist Osama bin Laden.
Two prominent Pashtun commanders, Abdul Haq and Hamid Karzai, who are both loyal to Afghanistan's former King Mohammed Zahir Shah, have entered southern Afghanistan from Pakistan to raise a rebellion against the Taliban. Their attempt to open a "southern front" against the Taliban ultimately aims to strengthen the Pashtun component of any future government.
Pakistani frustrations are compounded by the US decision to step up military cooperation with the ethnic Tajik and Uzbek-dominated Northern Alliance, which Islamabad views as a direct competitor for influence in shaping Afghanistan's future.
The answer to the first question -- how long the Taliban forces can retain their military effectiveness -- remains open. So far, the opposition Northern Alliance has made only cautious advances in the wake of the strikes and the Taliban remains in control of at least 90 percent of the country.
A total of 418 mt of wheat was sent from Pakistan to Afghanistan over the weekend. Leaving from Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, eight trucks bound for Kabul, carrying 218 mt of wheat, moved on Saturday on a trial basis. Six trucks also left Quetta, capital of Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan, on Sunday morning, carrying 200 mt of wheat.
Now these countries -- which include Pakistan, Iran and former Soviet Central Asian states -- are under pressure from the United States and European powers to take part in a much more high-stakes campaign aimed at striking against terrorism.
