In January 2000, Ambassador for Counterterrorism Michael Sheehan phoned Taliban foreign minister Wakil Muttawakil and “read him an unambiguous statement from [President Bill] Clinton: ‘We will hold the Taliban leadership responsible for any attacks against US interests by al-Qaeda or any of its affiliated groups.’ Muttawakil, who was privately one of bin Laden’s most bitter critics inside the Taliban movement, stuck to his talking points that the al-Qaeda leader was under the control of the Taliban and there was no proof that he was involved in terrorism.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Peter Bergen, The Longest War, Page 41