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Former Taliban ambassador applies for political asylum

Afghanistan's former Taliban ambassador to Islamabad says he's applied for temporary political asylum in Pakistan.

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef was the only spokesman for the fundamentalist militia during the United States' strikes on Afghanistan which followed the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon.

The former diplomat says he is waiting for a reply from the Pakistani Government.

Asked why he had applied for asylum instead of returning to his homeland, Zaeef said the time was not right.

But he did not rule out going home one day.

24/12/01 2:51:10 | ABC Radio Australia News

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