The prospect for a military confrontation in Afghanistan appeared to grow yesterday as the Taliban maintained its refusal to turn Osama bin Laden over to US or international authorities.
Speaking to the BBC, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf confirmed that an impasse had been reached.
"It appears that the United States will take action in Afghanistan," he said. "We have conveyed this to the Taliban. Because of the stand the Taliban have taken, a confrontation will take place."
Meanwhile, the former king of Afghanistan reached an agreement with the opposition Northern Alliance aimed at ousting the Taliban rulers in Kabul, the two sides have said.
Under the agreement, the anti-Taliban coalition called for the convening of a traditional grand council of Afghan leaders. This council would comprise representatives of all of Afghanistan's ethnic and tribal groups. It would elect a head of state and transitional government.
Western diplomats say that ex-king Mohammad Zahir Shah, who has lived in Italy in exile since 1973, is the only figure with the authority to assemble a broad anti-Taliban front.
A fierce battle between the Taliban and Northern Alliance forces was said to be raging in five separate areas of the north. The Taliban reportedly reinforced its position in the northern town of Mazae-e-Sharif by sending troops from the south. Other reports had the alliance gaining ground in other areas.
Another sign of increased military activity came from Japan, where a US Navy spokesman said the American carrier Kitty Hawk, with 70 warplanes on board, had sailed from its home port near Tokyo for duty .
An Iranian navy commander said on Sunday that 41 US and British warships had arrived in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman and were being monitored.
US special forces and British SAS troops are said to already be operating inside Afghanistan.
Iran's Defence Minister, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, has warned Washington that Iranian forces would confront US planes that used its airspace during expected strikes. Mr. Shamkhani acknowledged publicly for the first time yesterday that Tehran has been arming the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance and would continue to do so.
The New York Times reported yesterday that President Bush had approved covert efforts to help the anti-Taliban opposition, including possible military funding.
"The purpose is to enhance their ability to move against the Taliban," the paper quoted an unidentified U.S. official as saying "It is not limited to political support."
In Islamabad, the UN's top emergency relief co-ordinator, Mr Kenzo Oshima, arrived yesterday for a fact-finding trip as the country prepares to help hundreds of thousands of Afghans displaced or in flight from hunger and war.
A UN spokeswoman said Mr. Oshima would meet President Musharraf, other Pakistani and UN officials and representatives from aid agencies.
Meanwhile, the first UN aid trucks sent to the beleaguered Afghan capital since the attacks on the US arrived with more than 200 tons of wheat for city bakeries.
"Eight WFP (World Food Program) trucks with 218 tons of food arrived safely in Kabul this morning. They faced no problems on the way," said a WFP spokesman. "This is a positive sign and we will continue to ship more food into Afghanistan," he said. Other aid agencies, such as Ireland-based Concern, were planning to meet various officials today to seek permission to deliver aid to the northern area of Afghanistan. A UN plane is reported to be set to enter the country on Thursday.
The New York Times reported yesterday that President Bush had approved help for the anti-Taliban opposition, including possible military funding.