DR ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Of course security, pacification of the situation after 23 years of war. It is a big challenge, a big task for us. And then, reconstruction of the country. Security, stability and peace will never be complete without reconstruction, without rehabilitation. So, it is interconnected from all aspects of it. These are the two big challenges ahead of us and it cannot be done without the support by the international community.

JANA WENDT: You`ve ordered soldiers off the street and you`ve said that you will round up weapons - how volatile is the situation in Kabul?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: I shouldn`t say that the situation in Kabul is volatile, but from the other side I would not underestimate the challenge which is ahead of us in that task. Altogether, all over Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of people are armed and they are not organised into the national army or national security forces. So it is a big task which includes Kabul as well.

JANA WENDT: What has happened to the Taliban hierarchy? Where have they all gone?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Some of the leaders have gone to Pakistan and they have formed another party. They are working or functioning under the name of another party called Khadim al-Furqan. As far as Mullah Omar and some other senior Taliban leaders are concerned - they are believed to be in Afghanistan, but I cannot be certain about their exact locations at this stage.

JANA WENDT: When the former Taliban Justice Minister surrendered to regional authorities in Kandahar two weeks ago, he was allowed to go free. Why?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: This is something which is under serious consideration by the interim government. It shouldn`t have happened. It is a serious violation of the normal rules of dealing with such issues. A provincial leader or provincial authorities shouldn`t have taken such a step. That issue is under serious consideration by chairman Karzai. I think every Taliban leader...if the Taliban deserve to be brought to justice, if some are known later on, after proper investigations, that they were not a part of the war criminals, that`s a different issue. But that person - Turabi, the former minister of justice for the Taliban - he`s one of the war criminals, he shouldn`t have been allowed to go, he should have been brought to justice.

JANA WENDT: Were you informed at the time that he had in fact surrendered?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: No. We came to know about it only when he was let free.

JANA WENDT: So this would seem to be a serious breach of all the intentions of your government and I imagine quite an embarrassment?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Nevertheless, the situation in different parts of Afghanistan until the government fully integrates itself into every corner of the country, will be sort of confusing but, yes, you are right, this was the most serious violation of what we are intending to do.

JANA WENDT: Well, are some of these regional governments doing just as they please in defiance of your central government?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: This might not have been in defiance with the interim government or the central government. This has been a lack of coordination, which we have to take care of it.

JANA WENDT: Obviously there is another view of this and that is that it may have been a deliberate attempt to keep you in the dark?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: As I mentioned, that issue is under serious consideration. If it happens to be that way, or if it was proved to be that way, then our position will be different in that regard. But so far, this is our understanding.

JANA WENDT: Do you believe, Dr Abdullah, that there are elements actively working to undermine your government?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Certainly there are elements inside Afghanistan. Perhaps elements in the region as well. But, I think that since there is popular support, as well as international recognition for this government and international support for this government, we are sure that we will overcome those challenges and those threats which are against us.

JANA WENDT: Do you believe that there are elements within Pakistan actively working to undermine your government?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Those hardliners which have supported Taliban, which had supported Taliban in the past years from Pakistan and are also part of the institutions in Pakistan, there are elements in them that they are actively trying to undermine our efforts or the government. We are aware of those activities, but from the other side we believe that there is a change. The public stand of Pakistan is against terrorism and against interferences in Afghanistan. We hope that that will materialise fully in practice in regards to our government.

JANA WENDT: Dr Abdullah, to your knowledge, how much of the al-Qa`ida hierarchy remains intact?

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: We have not received lots of reports or reports about most of al-Qa`ida leaders` whereabouts or their situation. Osama`s fate, his location and his whereabouts is not known. So it is difficult to judge it at this stage, but I can say for sure that al-Qa`ida is not ruling Afghanistan anymore. This is a significant achievement by ruling Afghanistan - they were able to threaten global peace and security and to threaten civilisation as a whole. That`s not the case anymore. But the fate of most of the Taliban leaders are not known to us. It will take time until we reach the stage where we will be confident about the full distraction of that deadly organisation.

JANA WENDT: Dr Abdullah, we must leave it there, but I very much appreciate your time.