An Afghan diplomat has confirmed that the Taliban are still active in his country and are being supported by elements in Pakistan.
Wali Masoud, Afghanistan's ambassador to the UK and brother of the late Ahmad Shah Masoud, made his comments on the eve of the convening of his country's Loya Jirga -- or national assembly -- this weekend to approve a new constitution.
Masoud said international pressure on Pakistan would be sufficient to stop the activities of a "small group of returning Taliban".
"The Taliban, everyone knows, are coming from across the border (in Pakistan). It is a form of cross-border terrorism supported by some sections in Pakistan," Masoud added.
"Therefore, if the world community is determined they can stop them altogether by putting pressure on Pakistan."
Western and Indian diplomats privately express concern that the resurgent Taliban now control as many as 10 or even 12 districts along the Pak-Afghan border.
But Masoud, who argues that the overwhelming majority of Afghans are more interested in economy and reconstruction, questions these estimates.
"There is a very good chance that they (delegates) should agree a united constitution," Masoud said. "It is very, very possible and I am hopeful."
Other Afghan diplomats agree there is cause for concern that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden are still at large.
Security concerns are said to have played a role in postponing the deliberations of the Loya Jirga, which was due to meet in Kabul last Wednesday. That meeting was postponed until Saturday and has now been further postponed until Sunday.
An estimated 500 delegates are expected to spend weeks discussing the finer points of the constitution that is expected to endorse a strong presidential system of government headed by Hamid Karzai, that will guide the country to national elections next summer.
Delegates representing tribal, provincial and ethnic interests started arriving in Kabul from earlier this week. Although they are expected to ratify the constitution, security on the streets of the capital is extremely tight in order to ward off any possible attacks by the Taliban and their sympathisers.
Meanwhile, Afghan diplomats in London have confirmed they expect US-led forces in their country to start expanding their peacekeeping forces outside Kabul in a bid to curb the growing influence of the Taliban and extend Karzai's authority.
So far eight peacekeeping groups, known as Provincial Reconstruction Teams, have been deployed in such cities as Kunduz, Bamian, Mazar-e-Sharif and Gardez.
But as the teams are very small and area specific, it is too early to measure their effectiveness.
