However, the Taliban as a name should not be used anywhere in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee told mediapersons here rounding off his 10-day three-nation tour of Russia, the USA and Britain.

Mr Vajpayee categorically denied reports of a military alliance between India and the USA. He said entering into defence cooperation did not mean striking a military alliance either with the USA or the Russian Federation.

He emphasised that Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed with India that the Taliban had no place in Afghanistan’s future government.

At the same time Mr Vajpayee gave the impression that his government might not reject outright the involvement of “reformist elements” in the Taliban at some later stage without invoking the name of or being identified with the oppressive militia regime.

He said India and some other countries were concerned about a delicate situation developing in case Kabul was captured by the Northern Alliance without a proper and broad-based political structure in place. Mr Vajpayee said India’s strong reservations on the six-plus-two mechanism which had proved its inadequacy was appreciated. He said there was support to enlarging the six-plus-two mechanism to include India because of its traditional ties with Afghanistan. Then, New Delhi could play an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Though various ideas were being discussed about the future political set-up in Afghanistan, no agreement had been reached so far in this regard.

Mr Vajpayee found his visit to Russia, the USA as well as the United Nations and the United Kingdom “deeply satisfying.” Summing up, he said: “My visit served to enlarge and deepen the areas of understanding and agreement with our friends and partners.”

He disclosed there was wide agreement that after the fall of the Taliban regime, there should be a representative government in Afghanistan comprising all communities and sections which would fight the scourge of terrorism. He acknowledged there could be difficulties in arriving at such a formulation.

The Prime Minister attached urgency to finding a political solution to the crisis in Afghanistan. In this context he pointed out that in the United Nations there was a discussion about supporting former King Zahir Shah but a final decision was awaited.

Mr Vajpayee refused to comment on reports that the Hurriyat Conference had demanded a ceasefire during the holy fasting month of Ramzan. He said it was for those groups in Jammu and Kashmir to decide on the issue.

He said during his discussions with world leaders there was unanimity that international terrorism should be tackled in a comprehensive manner. All the leaders were one in saying that terrorism should be tackled globally and in all its forms.

There could be no political, economic or ideological justification for terrorism and the campaign against this menace should not be aimed at any particular religion.

The international community should have the political will to choke funds and ensure that safe havens were not provided to terrorists.

Mr Vajpayee said neither Kashmir nor Pakistan figured in his discussions with President Bush. “My talks with President Bush centred on our perspectives on Indo-US partnership for the future. Mr Bush was categorical about his administration’s commitment to all-round intensification of bilateral relations on a wide canvas.”

Stating that India’s relations with the USA had strengthened considerably, the Prime Minister said the lifting of economic sanctions should facilitate high-tech transfers, cooperation in space and defence and collaboration in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

About his Russian visit, Mr Vajpayee said the Moscow Declaration and the bilateral statement coupled with several agreements set out the road map for future cooperation encompassing defence, atomic energy and space.