Pakistan, Taliban warn of possible conflict

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Tension is growing along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan as both countries ready for possible conflict in the region.

Pakistan has pledged to "fully cooperate" with the United States as it investigates and considers military action after Tuesday's terrorist attacks, senior Bush administration officials told CNN.

And the Taliban rulers have warned they will consider replying if any neighboring country allows its soil to be used in a way that threatens Afghanistan.

CNN's Nick Robertson reported that for a short time all foreign nationals would be forced to leave the country.

IN-DEPTH Afghanistan under the Taliban     AUDIO CNN's Nic Robertson in Kabul on the Taliban's reaction to the U.S. attack 1.4MB / 2min10secs WAV sound   VIDEO Former Afghan minister blames the Taliban Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Nic Robertson has more on the developments in Afghanistan after the attacks on the U.S. (September 12) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES Statement from Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf

The Taliban rely heavily on Pakistan for imports of all kinds. But the possible presence of terrorist mastermind suspect Osama bin Laden in poverty and drought-stricken Afghanistan is creating a growing rift.

One former Pakistani diplomat, Wajid Shamsulhasan, told CNN: "Taliban are not bluffing, they are capable of creating trouble if Pakistan sides with the United States."

He said it waas a critical time for the region and warned of a potential "clash of civilizations" if Islam fundamentalists carried out their threat of a "jihad" that would pit Muslims against Christians.

World leaders should act very cautiously and not be trigger happy, he advised.

The leader of the Taliban told his nation Friday to prepare for holy war amid concerns that the United States would target it for harboring bin Laden.

In a 17-minute radio address, Supreme Leader Mullah Mohammed Omar said the Afghan people should not be afraid and that he was not afraid of dying.

The White House has put extraordinary pressure on Pakistan in recent days to show its commitment to helping the United States, especially after bin Laden, an exiled Saudi millionaire, was identified by U.S. officials as a suspect.

Bin Laden lives in Afghanistan, and Pakistan is one of just three nations to recognize the ruling Taliban regime as Afghanistan's legitimate government.

The most recent pledge came in diplomatic conversations Friday, a day after Secretary of State Colin Powell put an earlier, similar Pakistani promise to the test by presenting a specific wish list. The list included requests that Pakistan:

* Close its border with Afghanistan

* Stop fuel shipments to Afghanistan

* Allow, if requested, U.S. warplanes access to Pakistani airspace

Earlier Friday, Pakistan's ambassador to Russia said his country would cooperate with the U.S. "100 percent" on the issue of borders but speculated that Pakistan could have difficulty completely sealing its border with Afghanistan.

The United States has not been able to effectively close its border with Mexico, Iftikhar Murshed said.

Also, Murshed said requests by the United States for Pakistan to allow U.S. jet fighters into its airspace, in the event of a possible air strike against neighboring Afghanistan, and to stop supplying fuel to the Taliban government were "under consideration."

On Thursday, Powell went further than any Bush administration official in naming bin Laden a leading suspect in Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Speaking about high-level contacts between the United States and Pakistan since Tuesday's attacks, Powell said that "we're looking at those terrorist organizations who have the kind of capacity to conduct the actions of September 11."

"We haven't yet publicly identified the organization we believe was responsible, but when you look at the list of candidates one resides in that region."

When asked if bin Laden was that "candidate," Powell replied: "Yes."

Bin Laden key suspect

U.S. government sources have said they are "confident" the evidence in the case will lead to bin Laden, the alleged terrorist who has declared jihad, or holy war, against the United States and is based in Afghanistan.

The U.S. wants Afghanistan to expel bin Laden and stop allowing terrorist training in the country.

In a Tuesday night address to the nation, President Bush said, "We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."

On Thursday, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage presented the Pakistani ambassador to the United States with the "specific list" of concrete steps the United States wants Pakistan to agree to as a measure of its cooperation.

After meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan and speaking on the phone with Powell, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf issued a statement Thursday reiterating Pakistan's "unstinted cooperation in the flight against terrorism."

"Pakistan is committing all of its resources in an effort coordinated with the United States to locate and punish those involved in this horrific act," Musharraf said.

He had issued a similar statement on Wednesday after the Pakistani National Security Council held a special meeting on how to cooperate with the United States.

Musharraf's stand is seen as increasingly important as the Bush administration works to build an international consensus against the perpetrators of the attacks and for military retaliation.

With Pakistan's support, Afghanistan becomes further isolated if evidence in the case conclusively points to bin Laden.