Afghan Talks Gain Momentum

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, November 30, 2001

Afghan Talks Gain Momentum

Talks on Afghanistan's political future gained momentum Thursday, with the northern alliance dropping its rejection of international security forces and moving closer to a power-sharing agreement to end Afghan suffering.

Both the northern alliance and the United Nations, which is sponsoring the talks among four Afghan factions, struck a positive note on the third day of bargaining. With the international community seeking an end to two decades of war, the Afghans are under pressure to decide by the weekend on security and an interim authority that would run the country until March, when a national council would convene.

In a reversal that prompted new optimism, the northern alliance dropped its rejection of outside forces, but said they could arrive only after an interim authority was in place.

``Our official stand is that once a transitional mechanism is established, and the need for international forces is felt, we are not opposed to the arrival of an international force,'' northern alliance chief delegate Younus Qanooni said, speaking to reporters in Dari, one of the main Afghan languages.

On Wednesday, he said the northern alliance rejected an outside force.

Qanooni's turnaround brought the position of the northern alliance closer to the three other groups at the conference, representing the former King Mohammed Zaher Shah and two smaller exile groups. All three favor neutral forces to keep peace.

What is envisaged is the formation of an interim authority of 15-25 people with executive powers, and a larger supreme council of up to 200 with a semi-legislative role, Fawzi said. It would run the country until March, then convene a loya jirga, or national assembly, to create a transitional administration to run the country for two years and pave the way for democratic rule.

Early indications have suggested a role for the former king, who has lived in exile in Rome since being ousted in a 1973 coup. He enjoys great respect among most Afghans and is seen as a rallying point for peace.

But there are differences on what role he should play. Abdul Sattar Sirat, the head of the ex-king's delegation, told reporters Thursday that his group wanted the former monarch to be the head of state and lead any interim supreme council.

The northern alliance says he can be a unifying force, but cannot be head of state. Currently, northern alliance leader Burhanuddin Rabbani is recognized by the United Nations as Afghanistan's head of state.

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