‘No place for moderate Taliban’ says alliance

Afghanistan’s Northern Alliance see no role for so-called ‘‘moderate’’ Talibans in any future government, their foreign minister made clear today.

Doctor Abdullah Abdullah was speaking in the Iranian capital Tehran following an hour of talks with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at the British Embassy.

Mr Straw has said previously that while there can be no place for ‘‘hard core Taliban’’ in a replacement administration, there is no reason to exclude what he has called ‘‘rank and file Taliban’’ - those who followed the movement only because of fears for their own safety if they did not do so.

But asked by journalists whether there could be a role for ‘‘moderate elements’’ of the Taliban in the kind of broad based, multi-ethnic government the West is trying to encourage, Dr Abdullah was distinctly unenthusiastic.

He said: ‘‘It will be very broad based if we accept such a term.

‘‘First of all, such a terminology is a contradiction in terminology in itself.’’

Dr Abdullah, who described his talks with Mr Straw as ‘‘very constructive’’, insisted that the Northern Alliance did want to see an inclusive administration formed to replace the Taliban.

He said: ‘‘Our commitment to the formation of a fully representative, broad based government, which was the main focus of the talks today ... we reiterated our commitment in that regard.

‘‘We consider the upcoming meeting in Bonn, Germany, under the auspices of the United Nations, as a significant step towards that end.’’

Asked whether the Northern Alliance would welcome the deployment of more British troops in Afghanistan, Dr Abdullah was non-committal.

He said: ‘‘Our position is that if it should be decided in the light of developments, if we are consulted about it, we will consider it.

‘‘If we are requested about that we will consider it among ourselves, we will consult and give our response.’’