BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Taliban, Uzbek envoys talk

Envoys of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement and Uzbekistan have held talks in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The meeting comes after the Uzbek president, Islam Karimov, moderated criticism of the Taliban and said that the movement did not represent a threat to central Asia.

The Taliban envoy, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef, was reported to have stressed that the movement did not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

The Taliban have said previously that they were open to direct negotiations with Uzbekistan on the issue of Islamic militancy - an issue which correspondents say has concerned the Uzbeks.

A rebel group, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, has said it was behind a recent upsurge of attacks in former Soviet republics in the region which led to heavy casualties on both sides.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service