Taliban decries pact between Zahir Shah, Northern Alliance

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 2. Both Pakistan and the Taliban militia appear convinced that the agreement between the Northern Alliance (NA) and the former Afghan King, Zahir Shah, for convening a grand council to explore the possibility of the formation of a new government in Kabul would not go far.

While the Taliban denounced the agreement outright and said it was doomed to fail, Islamabad was a little circumspect. Without directly referring to it, Pakistan sought to remind the world that the two-year rule of the NA from 1992 neither provided stability nor brought peace to Afghanistan.

``What is it that would work in Afghanistan? It should be remembered that the NA was at the helm of affairs in Kabul for two years. They neither brought stability nor peace. Any effort in Afghanistan should be for a broadbased government,'' the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, said.

He was at pains to emphasise that Pakistan had been part of the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Countries effort for reconciliation and formation of a broadbased government in Afghanistan. ``There is an immutable quality to relations between people of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sometimes this relationship transcends the nature of relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Interests of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan are intertwined. We would always seek friendship and co-operation with Afghanistan.''

He said Pakistan would not like to see a hostile government in Afghanistan and that it was the conviction of Islamabad that a government acceptable to the people of Afghanistan would not be hostile to it. ``People of both countries would ensure that there is convergence in their interests. A government hostile to Pakistan would not be a representative government.''

The Taliban said that the U.S.-backed attempt to change their rule was doomed to fail, the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported. ``The decisions in Rome are being taken under the instructions of the U.S. and would have no positive result,'' AIP quoted Maulvi Abdul Rehman Zahid, Taliban's Deputy Foreign Minister, as saying. He was commenting on the agreement reached between Mr. Zahir Shah and the NA on calling a `Loya Jirga' (grand council) to decide the fate of the country.

``The people of Afghanistan do not accept a government selected from outside. We will definitely fight against these kinds of elements. The people who gathered in Rome are the same who filled their pockets during the jehad against the Soviets and now want to collect money in the name of Afghanistan,'' Maulvi Zahid said.

The `Loya Jirga', which comprises elders, tribal chiefs and spiritual leaders, would elect a new head of state and establish a transitional government ahead of free elections. Supporters of the 86-year old former King, who has lived in exile in Italy since 1973, said the Taliban would not be barred from the assembly but made it clear that they expected the hardline Afghan regime to be ousted soon.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said that Islamabad had conveyed to Taliban the urgency of the situation. ``We have told them that there is not much time left. Afghanistan is an independent country and it is for the leadership to take a decision on what is expected from them by the international community.''

Mr. Khan said there was no effort to take up the subject again with the Taliban leadership. ``There can be an effort on the spur of the moment. The situation is fast changing. I cannot say anything with certainty.''

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Section  : International
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