Parties involved in the Afghan crisis are intensifying their efforts to draw the political map of Afghanistan in the anticipated post-Taliban era, according to reports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin threw his weight behind deposed Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani on Monday, promising to provide military and other support to the "legitimate" government of Afghanistan.
"Russia's goal in this region is... to allow the return of civilian life (in Afghanistan) and to help install a state which is friendly towards its neighbours and Russia," Putin told a news conference, cited by AFP.
Putin, who was making a brief halt in Tajikistan on his way back from the APEC summit of Pacific Rim countries in Shanghai, signed a joint statement with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmonov and Rabbani on "the need to find a political solution for Afghanistan."
"All the ethnic groups should take part in forming the next Afghan government," said the statement, which was read out to reporters by a Tajik spokesman.
The formation of a new government in Kabul should involve a stronger role for the United Nations "and all foreign governments,” the statement added.
But the Russian leader ruled out participation of the hardline ruling Taliban in any future Afghan government, saying they were "linked with international terrorists."
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana met former Afghan king Mohammed Zahir Shah in Rome Sunday night to express EU solidarity with the king's efforts to form a post-Taliban coalition government in Afghanistan, reported the official Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA).
The Italian news agency quoted sources close to the meeting as saying that the two sides, which met for one hour in the ex-monarch's residence, agreed on the plan for calling a meeting of all representatives of the Afghan people, which Italy said it was ready to host.
Solana was quoted as saying that the EU wanted any future government in Afghanistan to group all factions, including the Pashtun tribes, the main component of the Taliban movement.
The US has been trying to convince Pashtun tribal leaders to stand against the Taliban, in return for a future role in the government, while the milita’s leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has sent envoys to his fellow clansmen to preempt the US plan – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
