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Powell Hints Pakistan May Cut Ties With Taliban
Tuesday, September 25, 2001 (18:30 JST)
JapanToday.com

WASHINGTON
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell hinted on Monday that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would formally cut ties with Afghanistan's Taliban government, as the United States tightens the diplomatic and military noose around Islamic leaders harbouring Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden.

In an interview with Reuters, Powell referred to the "Taliban regime posing as a government" and noted: "...there are only two nations left that recognise it (Taliban) — and who knows they might be dropping shortly..."

Asked directly if he expected Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to sever ties with the Taliban, Powell was circumspect.

"I'll wait and see what they say. I don't want to predict what they might or might not do," he said.
(More: JapanToday.com News Source)

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