Pakistan pulls diplomats from Afghanistan

Associated Press WriterISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan announced Monday it had removed its diplomats from Afghanistan, and the hardline Taliban leader said the United States should withdraw its forces from the Persian Gulf and end its "bias" against Palestinians if it wants to eliminate the threat of global terrorism.

The statements came as the United States geared up for military strikes in Afghanistan because of its refusal to hand over Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants. Bin Laden, the prime suspect in masterminding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, has used Afghanistan as headquarters of his Al-Qaeda terrorist network since 1996.

Faced with the prospect of attack, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia said it was dispatching 300,000 fighters to defend its borders -- even as fighting stepped up in the north of the country with a coalition of opposition forces.

Despite the threat, the Taliban remained defiant. In a statement faxed to news agencies here, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar said the elimination of bin Laden would do little to remove the threat against the United States.

"If Americans want to eliminate terrorism, then they should withdraw their forces from the Gulf and they should put an end to the biased attitude on the issue of Palestine," Omar said from his headquarters in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

"America wants to eliminate Islam, and they are spreading lawlessness to install a pro-American government in Afghanistan," Mullah Omar said. "This effort will not solve the problem, and the Americans will burn themselves if they indulge in this kind of activity."

With tensions mounting, Pakistan announced it had removed its 12 diplomats from its embassy in Kabul although relations have not been severed. During the weekend, the United Arab Emirates broke diplomatic relations with the Taliban, leaving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan as the only countries maintaining formal ties.

"In view of the abnormal situation, they were withdrawn over the weekend. They are all in Pakistan," Mohammed Riaz Khan, the foreign ministry spokesman, said. A Taliban embassy remains in operation here.

Pakistan has agreed to support the U.S. military campaign against bin Laden and his Taliban allies, and the removal of diplomats appeared to reflect concerns over their safety if the United States launches air strikes.

A Pentagon team is in Pakistan to discuss details of Pakistani cooperation in any future campaign.

In northern Afghanistan, meanwhile, heavy exchanges of artillery fire were reported overnight and early Monday in the Panjshir Valley and in Balkh province between the Taliban and opposition forces, who control about 5 percent of the country.

The opposition has offered to cooperate with the United States in driving the Taliban from power.