Taliban: If it is bin Laden, tell us directly

We prefer negotiation not war, says Taliban ambassador.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban says it is willing to hand over Osama bin Laden if evidence that he was involved with the September 11 attacks on the U.S. is passed to them directly.

The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, Mullaha Abdul Salem Zaeef, told CNN in a live interview with Larry King that negotiation through Pakistan was not acceptable. Below is a full transcript:

King: You have asked for negotiations, what do you wish to negotiate?

Zaeef: Yes we are feeling this feeling, which is the same that the American people are feeling. This event was very, very bad and very disastrous to the American people and we condemned that before.

VIDEO CNN's Larry King interviewed the Taliban's Ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef (October 3) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

Part of the negotiation or our stance is clear, our policy is clear. We want to solve any problems and anything through negotiation.

The negotiation is the way of solving our problems. This way can clear anything, this way can find a way together and work with the people.

We prefer negotiation than war, because war is very bad. This has lots of bad results in the future and this will increase the problems not decrease them.

Larry King: If it were shown to you Mr. Ambassador that Osama bin Laden was involved in the recent attacks on the U.S. would your government hand him over?

Zaeef: Handover is the other option and the other action. We want that, if Osama bin Laden is involved in this action and if this action was a terrorist action.

We know this was non-Islamic, and this was a very, very dangerous action and we condemn that.

If Osama bin Laden is involved in this action we need to do something. Where is the evidence, where is the proof of Osama bin Laden? Then we need to talk about this option.

Unfortunately, President Bush denied that again and again he has stood up (and talked) about an attack on Afghanistan and he wanted the negotiation time to finish and this is not the time for negotiation.

Only Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan must comply with the advisor of President Bush.

But this is not suitable, this is not the way of solving our problems.

We are an independent nation and Afghanistan is an independent country. We have the right to contact people, we have the right to know what is the problem, what is the right, what is the evidence, what is the proof.

If they don't contact us and all they want to do is enforce something and some other things on us. I think this is very far from a stance on justice.

Larry King: If the proof was sent to Pakistan and Pakistan showed it to you would you turn him over. If you were convinced he was involved would you turn him over?

Zaeef: We don't want to follow the other way. We want to direct, because Afghanistan is an independent country and the nation is an independent nation.

Why they cannot or why are they not able to contact us, why don't they respect or honor or talk with our government?

If they are talking through Pakistan this is not suitable.

They should directly speak with us, directly solve this problem with us.

They should, they are able, they are not non-able.

Because we are in the war, we are in the front of the war, we can help the people, we would like to be peaceful people and we can work with that.

Larry King: Thank you Mr. Ambassador. The Ambassador is saying that if the government contacts them directly, they are opposed to terrorism and if bin Laden is involved they will do something about it.