Zaeef currently being interrogated by U.S. officials
By IOL correspondent Aamir Latif
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 10 (IslamOnline) –Afghanistan’s interim government, headed by Hamid Karzai, has assured the family members of former Taliban's Ambassador to
Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeff, who at present is under U.S. custody, that "He is safe and sound, and no physical harm will be done to him", military sources
and the family members told IslamOnline Thursday.
Afghan government authorities contacted Zaeef's family, currently residing in Islamabad, and assured them that Zaeef would be returned to the interim
government by the U.S. troops "soon", family members said.
The interim administration also assured that it would not act against Zaeef's relatives residing in Afghanistan, sources added.
The interim government claimed that Zaeef would not be sent to the United States and would be returned by U.S. authorities after interrogation, sources said.
Zaeef was arrested last Thursday by Pakistani authorities, taken to Peshawar and questioned.
Pakistan said he was deported last Saturday to Afghanistan, but refused to say whether he had been turned over to Afghan or American authorities.
The U.S. officials hope Zaeef, one of the highest-ranking Taliban members taken captive since the U.S.-led coalition launched its war on Afghanistan, will provide useful intelligence for the ongoing campaign.
Zaeef was the main mouthpiece for the Taliban during the U.S. military campaign against Afghanistan.
During the height of the bombing campaign, he held daily news conferences at his embassy in Islamabad to defend the Taliban. Pakistan's government eventually stopped these press conferences.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees rejected Zaeef's application for refugee status.
Pakistan has said Zaeef's wife and six children can remain in the country for a while.
