Pakistan tells Taliban to shut consulates

Pakistan has ordered the Taliban to close its last two consulates, saying they were unnecessary after the collapse of Taliban rule in most of Afghanistan.

Pakistan summoned the Taliban Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef at the Foreign Ministry and ordered him to close consulates in the northern city of Peshawar and in Quetta in southwestern Pakistan.

The Taliban embassy in the capital Islamabad will be allowed to operate until an interim Afghan government is established, he added.

Earlier this month, Pakistan shut down the Taliban consulate in Karachi because of its alleged involvement in anti-US and anti-government demonstrations there.

Pakistan said Monday that it no longer maintains relations with the Taliban but would not expel its ambassador for the time being.

Pakistan had been the Taliban's closest ally since the Islamic militia was established in 1992 but abandoned them after the 11 September terrorist attacks in that United States.

The United States accused Osama bin Laden of the attacks and launched military action against the Taliban after they refused to hand him over. Pakistan backed the US-led anti-terrorism campaign despite its ties to the Taliban.

Khan said Pakistan wants the peace process in Afghanistan to succeed and an interim, broad-based government taking power in Kabul. UN diplomats are working to organize a conference in Germany this weekend to begin the process.

The day a UN-sponsored interim government for Afghanistan is announced, Pakistan will immediately recognize it and severe its last ties to the Taliban, Khan said.