Islamic clerics hold the fate of their people in their hands today as they consider what is worth more — their long-time guest, terrorist Osama bin Laden, or the lives of the Afghan people. A Pakistani delegation carried the ultimatum to the Taliban and warned Afghanistan to be ready for a strike by the weekend if they did not hand over the terrorist, who is now the prime suspect in masterminding the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. For the Taliban, the Pakistani message serves as an urgent warning after many chances the United States has already given Afghanistan, which has harbored bin Laden through other events he is suspected of masterminding, such as the bombing of two U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the bombing of the USS Cole. For Pakistan, this is an historic opportunity to prove its support of the United States.
The Taliban's leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, gave no indication that he would hand over bin Laden yesterday, and the Pakistani delegation decided to stay for an additional day. This is an appropriate response, considering the alternative action they could face from the United States should they fail to cooperate. Pakistan has worked closely with the Taliban and is one of only three countries to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government.
(Washington Times editorial) |