Pakistan attacks Afghan sanctions

The opposition still controls a small area of Afghanistan

Pakistan has sharply criticised plans by the US and Russia to tighten economic and arms sanctions against the Taleban movement in Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden: US wants him handed over

The Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said that a draft resolution before the UN Security Council was unprecedented in seeking to tighten the embargo on the Taleban, but exempt their opponents in the Northern Alliance.

"I have never come across sanctions from the Security Council which are so one-sided, which seem to be a prescription for fuelling the strife," he said.

The draft resolution would broaden sanctions imposed last year after the Taleban refused to hand over Islamic militant Osama bin Laden for trial on terrorist charges.

Not helping peace

Mr Sattar said Pakistan favoured a total arms embargo against all parties in Afghanistan, and a peaceful resolution to the on-going conflict between the Taleban and their opponents.

Is that any way to promote peace, the supply of arms to a group that has very little territory under its control?

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar

He said the proposed sanctions would undermine efforts by UN envoy Francesc Vedrell to bring both parties in Afghanistan to the negotiating table.

He also accused Russia and India of sending supplies through Central Asia to opposition chief Ahmed Shah Massoud.

Pakistan is one of just three countries which officially recognise the Taleban government in Afghanistan.

Tighter embargo

The Taleban control some 90% of the country - but have not been able to push the opposition alliance out of the area they control.

The proposed sanctions would tighten the existing air embargo and freeze on Taleban assets abroad.

In addition, they would ban the sale of chemicals, which are used to convert opium to heroin.

Taleban leaders said this week that Osama bin Laden was a guest in their country, and that bowing to pressure to ahnd him over was against their "national and religious dignity."

The US holds Osama bin Laden responsible for bomb attacks against two of its embassies in East Africa in 1998.

But the Taleban says it has received no evidence implicating him in the bombings.