Afghan Taliban representative to Islamabad Mohammad Haqqani Saturday said the Taliban authorities have not granted political asylum to the hijackers of the Indian plane which landed at the southern Afghan city of Kandahar early Saturday morning.

In a statement Haqqani said the hijacked plane was allowed to land at Kandahar airport after the Indian government requested for permission because the plane was running short of fuel.

The hijackers have not disclosed their nationality, he said, adding that safety of the passengers and crew members is the main concern of the Taliban.

The Taliban have taken several measures to ensure safety of the passengers and the crew members, the Taliban official added.

The plane, an Airbus-300, after taking off from Lahore Friday night, sought landing permission in the Afghan capital of Kabul and Kandahar, according to Haqqani.

However, the Taliban authorities did not grant landing permission to the plane, he said.

On Saturday morning, the plane again came towards Afghanistan after about five-hour-stay at Dubai and the pilot requested the Taliban to allow the plane to land at Kandahar airport because it was running short of fuel, said Haqqani.

Meanwhile, the Indian government also asked the Taliban authorities to allow the plane to land in Afghanistan.

The Taliban sources inIslamabad said Indian diplomats have been in touch with the Taliban authorities since Friday.

"Although India does not recognize the Taliban government,we are extending all help to solve the hijacking drama on humanitarian grounds," said the Taliban sources.

Haqqani and other senior Taliban officials in Islamabad went into negotiations with officials from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry to discuss the situation arising out of the hijacking, said the sources.