Taliban call for holy war
Kabul: Afghanistan's ruling Taliban has called upon the people to prepare for a holy war. Taliban appealed to the youth to enlist with the government to wage the war against infidels.

Meanwhile, the meeting of Islamic scholars and clerics called here to decide the fate of Osama bin Laden could not be held as many participants could not reach the capital.

Taliban affirmed that they would not hand over bin Laden to the US unless his involvement in terrorist attack on the US was proved.

The army also mounted offensive against Talibans opponents within the country so as to pre-empt any move by the US to instigate them against the Islamic regime.

In neighbouring Pakistan, hundreds of police and paramilitaries were deployed in Karachi to prevent more than 5,000 radical Islamic students marching on the US consulate.

It was the largest anti-US demonstration in the current crisis and also the biggest since military ruler Pervez Musharraf seized power two years ago.

Troops remained on alert but there was no movement out of barracks pending the outcome of the talks in Kabul, which Pakistan is desperately hoping will produce some sort of compromise.

Pakistani radicals have vowed to join any Afghan jehad and warned the government that helping the US in any attack will mean civil war.

Pakistan President Musharraf has promised his "unstinting cooperation" to any US action. But political leaders have warned him that this must stop short of letting Pakistan be used as the launching pad for an attack.
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