HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 c211W
Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the regimes which his Department suspects of having given(a) active and (b) passive aid to the bin Laden organisation. [18259]

Mr. Bradshaw

We are not speculating that any regimes other than the Taliban support al-Qaeda. There are other countries where terrorists are able to operate. We are developing a broad counter-terrorism strategy for such countries covering diplomatic measures, counterterrorism and law enforcement assistance, development aid, public information and media messages and intelligence.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what discussions his Department had prior to 11 September with Pakistan Government officials regarding Osama bin Laden. [19413]

Mr. Bradshaw

Prior to 11 September, we regularly raised our concerns about Osama bin Laden with the Pakistanis. On 13 June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Pakistani Foreign Minister Sattar where he urged Pakistan to use their influence over the Taliban to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333 which inter alia calls for Osama bin Laden to be handed over to justice.

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