http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1550000/1550366.stm

Tuesday, 18 September, 2001, 11:27 GMT 12:27 UK 
US 'planned attack on Taleban'

The wider objective was to oust the Taleban
By the BBC's George Arney 

EXCERPTS:

A former Pakistani diplomat has told the BBC
that the US was planning military action
against Osama Bin Laden and the Taleban even
before last week's attacks. 

Niaz Naik, a former Pakistani Foreign Secretary,
was told by senior American officials in
mid-July that military action against
Afghanistan would go ahead by the middle of
October. 

The wider objective, according to Mr Naik,
would be to topple the Taleban regime and
install a transitional government of moderate
Afghans in its place - possibly under the
leadership of the former Afghan King Zahir
Shah. 

Mr Naik was told that Washington would launch
its operation from bases in Tajikistan, where
American advisers were already in place. 

Mr Naik was told that if the military action
went ahead it would take place before the
snows started falling in Afghanistan, by the
middle of October at the latest. 

And he said it was doubtful that Washington
would drop its plan even if Bin Laden were to
be surrendered immediately by the Taleban.