Global Policy Forum

By Shaheen Sehbai

Washington - The US on Monday reacted cautiously to the steps taken by Pakistan to implement UN sanctions against the Taliban, with a senior State Department official declining to welcome the Islamabad move or even to comment on it. "That comment should come from the UN and not us because they are UN resolutions and not US sanctions," the official said when asked about the reports that Pakistan had frozen the Taliban accounts and assets in Pakistan.

Asked whether the US had sensed a change in Pakistan's policy as the UN resolution was to go into effect on Nov, 14 and Pakistan had frozen the accounts one month late, the official simply declined to touch on the subject, saying: "I cannot speculate about that."

The official was asked if the US was hoping or expecting that Pakistan would actually freeze the Taliban accounts. "All countries are supposed to implement it since it is a UN resolution. The UAE has stopped servicing Ariana Airlines. The resolution was to demonstrate international concern. I think it is important for every country to do their part," he said.

Asked how much pressure would the US put on the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Laden, the official said: "We certainly hope that Taliban would increasingly realise that they are facing a united international position against their continuing provision of haven for bin Laden. We certainly hope this will help in getting him out."