BBC News Online: World: South Asia

Bin Laden 'controls Taleban'

Bin Laden's men roam the country at will, says Bhutto

The main suspect in last month's devastating attacks in the US uses a 12,000-strong private army to treat his host country "like a vassal", she told Reuters, quoting "informed sources" within the Taleban.

Ms Bhutto's view is one shared in certain quarters, but some analysts question whether Bin Laden has anything like the leading political role in Afghanistan which is ascribed to him.

Some even argue that he is running out of funds to finance his al-Qaeda organisation.

Ms Bhutto's view could, however, explain why the Taleban refuses to hand Bin Laden over - despite repeated threats of imminent US military action against both parties if they do not.

She says his fighters roam the country, terrorising locals and Taleban commanders alike.

"They are Arabs from different countries together and they drive around in shaded cars, and no one can cross their paths," she said in an interview on Sunday.

"He [Bin Laden] intimidates and his force really runs the place like a vassal."

Isolation

In the current circumstances neither Ms Bhutto's assertion nor its refutation is provable.

What can be said with a little more certainty is that, as Pakistani backing for the Taleban dries up, Afghanistan's rulers and America's most wanted man find themselves with more and more in common.

Pakistan is the only country left which still recognises the Taleban.

But even its government has backed US President George Bush in his war on terrorism.

Ms Bhutto said the capture of Bin Laden would be a prime opportunity to oust the Taleban, "a destabilising force" which she said all neighbouring countries hate.

"The Taliban must be overthrown and this is an opportunity to overthrow them," Ms Bhutto said.