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Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair (L) holds a press conference with President Gen Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan in Islamabad , today
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Britain and Pakistan sounded a death knell for the Taliban today, discussing a future for the country that appeared to exclude the current leadership of the hardline Islamic movement.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in Islamabad to shore up support for the global war on terrorism, discussed the possible composition of a post-Taliban government with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Both men said evidence of Osama bin Laden's links to September 11 suicide hijack attacks in the United States - which left nearly 5,600 people feared dead - were clear, although they used different words to express it.
"I personally ... and my government feels that there is evidence leading to an association between this terrorist act and Osama bin Laden," Mr Musharraf said at a joint news conference.
"However we did, I would say with satisfaction, understand each other's concerns on the happenings in Afghanistan and likely future events in Afghanistan."
Mr Blair, who is already convinced of bin Laden's guilt, said he had discussed with Mr Musharraf the future of Afghanistan should anticipated US action in pursuit of the Saudi-born fugitive end with the toppling of the Taliban.
"We have agreed that if the current Taliban regime fails to yield up bin Laden and it falls, then its successor must be broad based with every key ethnic group being represented," he said.