Military

DATE=09/28/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-281117

TITLE= PAK / AFGHAN (L-UPDATE)

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: UPDATES 2-281107 , ADDING PAK INTEL CHIEF TAKING PART IN TRIP.

INTRO: A group of senior Pakistani clerics accompanied by the head of

Pakistan's Intelligence Service traveled to Afghanistan today (Friday)

to hold talks with the Taleban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar.

V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from Islamabad, Pakistani officials say they

hope the delegation can convince Taleban leaders about the seriousness of

the situation they face.

TEXT: In a surprise development Pakistan's Foreign Ministry announced a

delegation of Pakistani clerics who traveled to Kandahar on Friday were

accompanied by General Mehmood Ahmed, the head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Agency.

General Mehmood led a high-ranking delegation to Kandahar nearly two weeks ago that failed to persuade the Taleban to surrender alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden and members of his al-Qaida organization. President Bush says the bin Laden organization is responsible for the terrorist attacks in the United States.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Riaz Mohammed Khan says General

Mehmood is not carrying any new proposals or suggestions to convince the

Taleban to surrender Osama bin Laden. He also says the religious leaders,

known collectively as the Ulema are traveling on their own and have received

no instructions from the government.

/// KHAN ACTUALITY ///

This delegation which as gone is not a Pakistani delegation in the strict

sense. It is a delegation of the Ulema accompanied by the DGIS (Director

General I-S-I). So as far as any proposal is concerned, what we were

telling them (the Taleban) when the first delegation went was a message that

this is what the international community expects you to do. And that

remains our position.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Meanwhile the newspaper U-S-A Today reports that American special forces soldiers have been inside Afghanistan for nearly two-weeks searching for Osama bin Laden and members of his organization. The newspaper, quoting un-named Pakistani and U-S sources says teams of commandos are searching remote areas where the Saudi fugitive has been known to operate, but have been unable to locate him. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Friday it had no information about the report. A Defense Department spokesman in Washington says the department will not comment on any operational matters. (Signed)

neb/jlt/KBK