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Interview-U.N. Envoy sceptical on Afghan peace
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|  he U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan,
Lakhdar Brahimi, said on Tuesday he doubted that the country's warring factions
were about to heed calls to end 20 years of factional, political and ethnic
bloodshed. "Whether this appeal (for peace) will be heard or not I do not know," he told Reuters in an interview in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, where Afghanistan's ruling Taleban Islamic movement and opposition had earlier ended inconclusive peace talks. "There is every reason to be doubtful." Brahimi said that he was encouraged that the bilateral talks had taken place at all, although they yielded little in terms of hard commitments to end the conflict. "We did not expect miracles and miracles did not happen." When asked what he thought would happen next he replied: "We will see. It is always navigation by sight." He voiced concern at Taleban preparations for a major summer offensive against opposition forces dug in just north of Kabul. The hardline Islamic movement controls 90 percent of the country, but they have failed to dislodge their last remaining foes led by Ahmad Shah Masood, military commander of the government ousted three years ago, from their Panjsher valley bastion. Even if the Taleban won the territory under opposition control, the war would not just go away, Brahimi warned. "They should have realised after 20 years that fighting and conquering territory does not end the war, and even if you take over the whole country it does not mean peace, because they will spring up somewhere else to haunt you." The Taleban and opposition discussed a ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners and other issues related to the ongoing fighting during just over two hours of talks early on Tuesday. Their only commitment was to continue to strive for peace and to consult their respective leaderships about what was said at the meetings and about the prospect for further negotiations. They have promised more in the past, most recently vowing in March to set up a broad-based power-sharing structure and work towards laying down arms. The deal quickly unravelled and the sides have been at loggerheads since. Brahimi said the Afghan conflict had long been complicated by the imbalance between negotiating partners, with the Taleban most recently in the ascendancy. "Since the Soviet Union left (Afghanistan) you have invariably had a strong partner who refused to negotiate," he said. "I don't think we've got away from that." He also said intervention by neighbouring countries in the country's internal affairs had to stop. Tuesday's talks followed a meeting on Monday of the so-called Six-plus-Two contact group comprising the six countries bordering Afghanistan as well as the United States and Russia. The group signed a declaration in which the member states agreed not to provide military support to any Afghan party and prevent the use of their territories for such purposes. Iran has supported the opposition in the past while Pakistan is widely believed to have sponsored the Taleban's campaign. "It is only fair also to point the finger at the countries which signed this declaration yesterday and see how committed, how serious and how effective they are going to be in translating these very nice intentions into concrete actions," Brahimi said.
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Tashkent meeting gives impetus to Afghan settlement-Spokesman
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| he results of the Tashkent meeting of the
Group of Afghanistan's Friends and Neighbours "have undoubtedly given a
constructive impetus to the political settlement in Afghanistan, " a spokesman for
the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The meeting proved the growing consolidation of the member countries' views
and approaches, and the vitality of this mechanism as a key international
instrument for finding ways out of the Afghan conflict, Vladimir Rakhmanin told a
briefing.
"The fact that the Tashkent meeting was attended by top- ranking
representatives from both parties to the conflict testifies to their pinning definite
hope on the international community's efforts," the spokesman said.
Moreover, the proposals that came from the Afghan parties overlapped with the
basic approaches of the Group of 6 plus 2, including those that were reflected in
the Declaration passed by the Tashkent meeting, Rakhmanin noted. "The
Tashkent document is a transparent signal for the Afghan warring forces, which
they will have to take into consideration," he added.
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Afghan General Ahmad Shah Massoud visiting Uzbekistan
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|  fghan General Ahmad Shah Massoud, one
of the leaders of the united front of Afghanistan and head of the anti-Taliban
movement, arrived in Tashkent on Wednesday. Tass learned from reliable
diplomatic sources, that he will hold talks with Uzbek Foreign Minister
Abdulaziz Kamilov. They are expected to discuss problems, connected with the
Tashkent declaration on Afghanistan, which was adopted in the Uzbek capital
two days ago. Specifically, they will discuss possibility of ceasefire, the exchange
of war prisoners and ways to putting into effect the provisions of the Tashkent
declaration.
Ahmad Shah Massoud was invited to take part in the "six plus two" international
meeting, held in Tashkent under the U.N. aegis two days ago. It was attended
by deputy foreign ministers of Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of Russia and the United States. For
some unknown reason, he did not take part in the meeting.
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Tajik, Uzbek leaders hail Tashkent meeting on Afghanistan
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| ajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and
Uzbek President Islam Karimov on Wednesday welcomed the results of a
recent meeting of international mediators for Afghanistan and noted its
"undoubtedly constructive impetus".
A spokesman for the Tajik leader told Itar-Tass that during his telephone
conversation with Karimov earlier today Rakhmonov reiterated his country's
position and stressed that "there is no military solution to the Afghan crisis. It can
be resolved only through a peaceful political settlement and creation of a
representative government in Afghanistan."
Rakhmonov told Karimov that "Tajikistan intends to continue to assist, within the
framework of the group of neighbours and friends of Afghanistan, in facilitating a
gradual return of Afghan society to peaceful life."
The two presidents also touched on bilateral cooperation under earlier interstate
agreements and called for their "qualitative and timely" implementation.
Rakhmonov thanked the president and the leadership of Uzbekistan for
providing humanitarian aid to Tajik regions hit by recent mud-slides.
Earlier today, Karimov for the first time met the leader of the United Front of
Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Masood, to tell him that all "attempts to bring Afghan
warring factions to the negotiating table have failed for several years. But this
was done under the U.N. auspices at the Tashkent international meeting of the 6
plus 2 group, where the long-awaited dialogue between the United Front of
Afghanistan and the Taleban movement began. This is testimony to the
unquestionable success of the Tashkent meeting."
Karimov and Masood noted that the first serious steps in Tashkent will
undoubtedly lead to further talks and resolution of the protracted military conflict
in Afghanistan.
The participants in the Tashkent meeting adopted a declaration on Afghanistan.
The document was signed by Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and the United States. Turkmenia did not sign it.
In the declaration, they expressed their firm belief that there is no military solution
to the Afghan conflict and it has to be settled by peaceful means through political
talks.
"We believe that negotiations should be conducted under the U.N. auspices and
can consist of two stages. The main goal of the first stage is to adopt
confidence-building measures," the document said.
Such measures will call for signing an agreement on an immediate ceasefire
without preconditions and holding direct talks between the authorised
delegations of the two parties to the conflict -- the United Front and the Taleban
movement.
The talks should result in an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war,
lifting of internal blockades, opening of roads for mutual trade, delivery of
humanitarian aid on territories controlled by different Afghan groups.
At the second stage, the Afghans will have to work out the main principles of the
future state system in their country and create a multi-ethnic government.
"We are ready to cooperate with a new Afghan government on all aspects in
order to strengthen security and stability in Afghanistan and the region, return
Afghan refugees to their homes and ensure a speedy rehabilitation and
restoration of Afghanistan with the support of the U.N., international financial
organisations and donor countries," the declaration said.
The participants in the meeting called on the international community to take
concerted action to provide emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
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Uzbek wrestling Kurash may be presented in Sydney
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|  resident of the International Kurash Association Komiljon Yusupov said in a news-conference in Tashkent that the Uzbek national wrestling Kurash might be for the first time presented in Sydney during the Summer Olympic Games in 2000. He said that the IKA based in Tashkent had established contacts with 70 countries to promote kurash. Canada, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay are finishing paper works for the establishment of national kurash federations in their countries. Mr. Yusupov also said that kurash was included in the program of the South American Games. He also said that the next host city for a World Championship might be Samarkand, another Uzbek city. The First Kurash World Championship was held this spring in Tashkent.
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President Karimov meets with Ahmad Shah Masood
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| resident Islam Karimov met with visiting head of the Afghanistan's United Front Ahmad Shah Masood on July 21. Both sides discussed the results of the 6+2 Group meeting in Tashkent. The United Front is the last foe of the ruling Taleban movement in their attempt to take full control of the country. The Taleban movement today controls 90% of Afghanistan. The sides spoke about the practical implementation of the Tashkent Declaration. In a meeting with the press, Ahmad Shah Masood said he was satisfied with his meeting with President Karimov and said he shared views expressed by the Uzbek president on the situation in Afghanistan.
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President Karimov meets with 6+2 Group meeting participants
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|  n July 19 President Islam Karimov met with Iran's deputy foreign minister Zavad Zarif, Pakistan's deputy foreign minister Iftihar Murshid, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth and U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Afghanistan Lakhdar Brakhimi who visited Tashkent to attend the 6+2 Group meeting. President Karimov exchanged views with the guests on issues of regional stability and appreciated their efforts to help settle the Afghan problem.
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Uzbek Parliament to hold 15th session
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| he Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan announced that it would hold its 15th session on August 19 to consider new bills. Among those to be discussed will be 1. Information on the fulfillment of the State Budget for the first half of 1999; 2. Draft on additions and amendments to the Law on Elections in Uzbekistan; 3. Draft of a law on natural monopolies; 4. Draft of a law on traffic security; 5. Draft of a law state border; 6. Draft of a law on telecommunications; 7. Draft of a law on tourism and others.
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Presidential decree to raise wages
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| he President of Uzbekistan issued a decree on raising wages in Uzbekistan including pensions, stipends and social welfare by 1.4-fold. The decree will be in effect since August 1. The minimum wage in Uzbekistan now will be 1,750 soums which is about 15 dollars at the official rate and four dollars at the black market rate.
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President Karimov appoints new ambassador to Iran
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| resident of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov appointed Ilkhom Akramov an ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Islamic Republic of Iran as of July 16, 1999.
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Afghan talks close with no breakthrough
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| fghanistan's ruling Taleban movement and an
opposition alliance failed to reach agreement on ending their conflict at peace
talks on Tuesday, saying more diplomacy was needed to stop the fighting.
Representatives of the warring parties met in neighbouring Uzbekistan's capital
Tashkent for two days of peace talks despite the Taleban saying it was
preparing for a major summer offensive against its last remaining military foe.
They held bilateral talks after a so-called Six-plus-Two contact group meeting
on Afghanistan, which urged the sides to end 20 years of factional, political and
ethnic bloodshed.
"We had the opportunity to get together with the opposition," Taleban
Information Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi told reporters.
"We spoke about a ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners and a continuation of
talks, and it now depends on the decision of our leaderships," he said.
The representatives agreed to hold further meetings and the opposition alliance
held out hope that these could stop the Taleban's preparation for a summer
offensive.
"I think this is a good opportunity for peace," opposition spokesman Dr
Abdullah (editors: one name) told Reuters.
"We must use this opportunity in the interests of peace and a peaceful solution
for our country."
The ruling Taleban controls 90 percent of Afghanistan, but has failed to dislodge
fighters loyal to Ahmad Shah Masood from his Panjsher valley stronghold.
Representatives from the opposition group said they knew the Taleban had
started to prepare for an offensive.
The Six-plus-Two group, which comprises the six countries bordering
Afghanistan plus the United States and Russia, drew up a declaration for the
peace settlement on Monday. It called for a ceasefire and Tuesday's talks.
The group also includes China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan.
While stressing the outcome of the two-day talks was positive, delegates said a
breakthrough was elusive.
The Taleban had originally refused to attend the Tashkent talks because none of
the Six-plus-Two group's members except Pakistan recognises the Taleban
government.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognise the government,
while Iran backs the opposition groups and the ousted Government of
Burhanuddin Rabbani.
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Warring Afghan parties join U.N.-chaired talks
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|  .N. Secretary-General Kofi
Annan's special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi chaired a meeting on
Monday of the "Six-plus Two" Group to solve the conflict in Afghanistan, the
United Nations announced.
It was the first time that the two warring parties met together with the group. The
two-day meeting is being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Brahimi, reading a statement on behalf of Annan, who is in Vienna on a visit, said
the fighting in Afghanistan continues to threaten peace and stability in the region.
Brahimi called for the resumption of dialogue and an end to material and political
support to the warring parties by neighboring and other countries, according to
U.N. spokesman Manoel De Almeida e Silva.
The Taliban group which controls some 90 percent of Afghanistan, and the
opposition representatives are expected to meet directly Tuesday to discuss
issues related to the exchange of prisoners of war and the lifting of blockades, it
was reported.
Senior officials from China, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and
Turkmenistan -- the six neighboring countries of Afghanistan -- plus the United
States and Russia are attending the talks.
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Declaration approved at Afghan peace talks
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|  elegates from eight countries attending Afghan
peace talks in Uzbekistan adopted a declaration Monday addressing issues that
could lead to a negotiated settlement, the State Department said.
Representatives of the two principal Afghan factions, the Northern Alliance and
the Taliban, attended the meeting and endorsed the declaration, spokesman
James P. Rubin said.
Represented at the meeting were Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, China, Russia and the United States.
Rubin said the declaration called for establishment of a broad-based,
multi-ethnic and fully representative government established through political
negotiation among the Afghan parties.
Members agreed to support negotiations and not to provide military support to
Afghan parties.
They called for an immediate cease-fire, direct negotiations and exchange of
POWs. The declaration also expressed profound concerns about human rights
violations, the spread of narcotics production and harboring of terrorists in
Afghanistan.
The discussions are scheduled to continue Tuesday.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth, who led the U.S. delegation at
the talks, met with the Taliban representatives to renew a request for them to
hand over Osama bin Laden. The billionaire Saudi native is on the FBI's 10
Most Wanted List for allegedly masterminding the bombings of two U.S.
embassies in Africa last year.
Washington imposed sanctions against the Taliban for harboring bin Laden and
offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The Taliban, who control about 90 percent of Afghanistan, are battling the
northern-based opposition alliance on several fronts in a push to extend their rule
to the entire country. On Sunday, the opposition claimed it had captured two
districts in western Ghor province from the Taliban.
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Focus-Afghan Taleban, foes agree to talks
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| fghanistan's ruling Taleban militia and
opposition alliance agreed Monday to hold bilateral talks early Tuesday in a
last-ditch bid to head off an armed clash in the coming weeks.
Representatives of the warring parties, in Uzbekistan amid tight security for a
two-day meeting of the so-called Six-plus-Two contact group on Afghanistan,
were urged to put an end to 20 years of factional, political and ethnic bloodshed.
U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was cautious on the likely outcome of the
discussions after previous agreements to set up a broad-based government had
failed.
"This is a formulization of an agreement between the eight countries and for the
first time the two Afghan parties sat down together with those eight countries,"
he told Reuters in the Central Asian state's capital of Tashkent.
"It now all depends on how this is going to be transformed into acts. We will
see, we will see," he added.
Talk of peace comes amid preparations by both sides for a major summer
offensive. The ruling Taleban controls 90 percent of Afghanistan, but has failed
to dislodge fighters loyal to Ahmad Shah Masood from his Panjsher valley
stronghold.
"We know that such preparations are being made by the Taleban," opposition
spokesman Dr Abdullah (one name) told Reuters.
The Six-plus-Two group, comprising the six countries bordering Afghanistan
plus the United States and Russia, drew up a declaration for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict which called for a cease-fire and bilateral discussions.
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Tashkent meeting adopts declaration on Afghanistan
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| group of international mediators adopted
a declaration on Afghanistan at its meeting held under the U.N. auspices in
Tashkent on Monday.
The document was signed by Russia, Iran, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan and the United States. Turkmenia did not sign it.
In the declaration, they expressed their firm belief that there is no military solution
to the Afghan conflict and it has to be settled by peaceful means through political
talks.
"We believe that negotiations should be conducted under the U.N. auspices and
can consist of two stages. The main goal of the first stage is to adopt
confidence-building measures," the document said.
Such measures will call for signing an agreement on an immediate ceasefire
without preconditions and holding direct talks between the authorised
delegations of the two parties to the conflict -- the United Front and the Taleban
movement.
The talks should result in an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war,
lifting of internal blockades, opening of roads for mutual trade, delivery of
humanitarian aid on territories controlled by different Afghan groups.
At the second stage, the Afghans will have to work out the main principles of the
future state system in their country and create a multi-ethnic government.
"We are ready to cooperate with a new Afghan government on all aspects in
order to strengthen security and stability in Afghanistan and the region, return
Afghan refugees to their homes and ensure a speedy rehabilitation and
restoration of Afghanistan with the support of the U.N., international financial
organisations and donor countries," the declaration said.
The participants in the meeting called on the international community to take
concerted action to provide emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov told Itar-Tass that "we intend to
help Afghanistan but we are not going to interfere in its internal affairs."
"We believe that Afghan society should go back to peaceful life gradually,
without excessive attempts to rush this process," the minister said.
Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Wengchang said "the mechanism of the
6 plus 2 group on the Afghan issue has become the main channel to look for a
peaceful settlement of the Afghan problem."
"The Chinese government calls on the warring factions in Afghanistan to put the
interests of the country above everything else and, setting aside disagreements on
nationality, faith and political views, stop the conflict as soon as possible, so that
they could, acting on the basis of mutual respect and substantive consultations,
form as soon as possible stable government representing broad circles of society
and acceptable to all sides," the diplomat said.
"There is a saying in China: 'A one thousand kilometre journey begins with the
first step'. Since we, having met in Tashkent, already have a good beginning,
there is also a reason to be confident that a speedy peaceful settlement of the
Afghan issue is possible and encouraging," Yang noted.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Sredin told Itar-Tass the results of the
meeting "have undoubtedly given a constructive impetus to the political
settlement in Afghanistan."
The meeting has shown a greater convergence of views and approaches of the
member countries and proved the viability of this mechanism as a key
international instrument in finding solutions to the Afghan conflict, Sredin said.
The meeting was attended by delegations from Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenia, Uzbekistan, China, the Taleban movement and the United Front, as
well as from Russia and the United States.
The participation of the Afghan sides in the meeting indicates that they connect
certain hopes with international efforts and their views are largely consonant with
the approaches of the 6 plus 2 group, including those written down in the
Tashkent Declaration, he added.
"This document has sent a clear signal to the warring Afghan forces which they
will have to reckon with," the Russian diplomat noted.
The 6 plus 2 group has specified preliminary arrangements made by the U.N.
Security Council and the General Assembly with regard to Afghanistan. Now the
Afghan sides have to show responsibility because the current situation in the
country remains not simply tense but explosive, Sredin said.
The head of the Taleban delegation, Alexander Muttaki, said the Tashkent
meeting will have a continuation.
"Judging from the results of the meeting, we see they it will have a continuation
within the framework of the 6 plus 2 group. Our participation in the meeting
showed that we are ready for a dialogue on all aspects within the framework of
this group, under the U.N. aegis," he said.
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China urges warring Afghan parties to end conflicts
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|  hinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang
Wenchang, speaking at a U.N.-sponsored talks on peace in Afghanistan which
opened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Monday, urged the two warring Afghan sides
to eliminate their differences and end the conflicts between them.
Afghanistan's warring factions opened the two days of peace talks in the Uzbek
capital for finding a way to end conflicts that have raged in the country for more
than 10 years.
In his address to the meeting, Yang expressed the hope that a stable Afghan
government will be formed in the country at an early date.
The talks are being attended by senior officials from China, Pakistan, Iran,
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan -- the six neighboring countries of
Afghanistan -- plus the United States and Russia, which are known as "the
six-plus-two group."
Yang pointed out that as the conflicts in Afghanistan have raged for more than
10 years, how to effectively promote the Afghan peace process and end the civil
war at an early date is a need of the present time and also a common aspiration
of the people.
"The international community should endeavor to create a constructive, good
and generous external environment for settling the Afghan issue," he said.
Welcoming the participants in the talks, Uzbek President Islam Karimov also
said, "Our most coveted and greatest desire is to see a peaceful, stable and
secure Afghanistan."
Opening the talks, a U.N. official read a statement from Secretary-General Kofi
Annan that expressed concerns about the conflicts in Afghanistan.
"Afghan people continue to suffer, shots are heard, and people continue to die,"
said Lakhdar Brahimi, the U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, "We have
gathered to put an end to this."
The Taliban group, which is in control of about 90 percent of Afghanistan, are
presently battling the northern-based opposition alliance on several fronts.
On Tuesday, the Taliban and the opposition representatives will meet directly to
discuss issues related to the exchange of prisoners of war and the lifting of
blockades that have prevented humanitarian aid deliveries to the country,
according to news reports reaching here.
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U.S. renews Bin Laden dialogue with Afghan Taleban
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| he United States said on Monday it would
keep pressing Afghanistan's ruling Taleban to extradite Saudi exile Osama bin
Laden, whom Washington blames for the bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa
last year.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth, attending Afghan peace talks
in Tashkent, capital of the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan, said he had raised
the issue with Taleban delegates at the talks.
"We believe terrorism is an issue of growing concern and that brings us to the
issue of the presence in Afghanistan of bin Laden and his network," Inderfurth
told a news briefing at the end of the first day of a two-day, U.N.-sponsored
summit.
"We did discuss that in our meeting with the Taleban."
Washington wants the ruling Afghan militia to help it try bin Laden in connection
with last year's U.S. embassy bombings in which at least 215 people died in
Nairobi and 11 in Dar es Salaam.
The Taleban acknowledged earlier this month that bin Laden was in Afghanistan,
although his precise whereabouts were not revealed.
The United States launched a cruise missile attack last year on suspected bases
of bin Laden in southern Afghanistan and has not ruled out the possibility of
more attacks.
It has also imposed economic sanctions against the Taleban in an attempt to
force the hardline Islamic movement to give up one of America's top 10 most
wanted men.
The Taleban has so far refused to extradite bin Laden, saying that the United
States had failed to present any proof as to his involvement in any terrorist act.
"This was not our first conversation with the Taleban on this matter, and nor do I
believe it will be the last," Inderfurth said. "The sanctions were imposed because
of the continued presence of bin Laden in Afghanistan."
The Taleban controls 90 percent of Afghan territory, but has failed to dislodge
forces of opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood from their stronghold in the
Panjsher valley.
At Monday's U.N.-sponsored talks in Tashkent a group of eight countries --
including the United States, Russia and the six countries that border Afghanistan
-- called on factions there to stop fighting.
The Taleban and its foes did not meet face to face on Monday, but agreed to
hold bilateral talks on Tuesday.
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"We Are for joint work to reach common goal", says Pakistan
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| akistani Deputy Foreign Minister Iftihar
Murshid, speaking at an interval of the "6 plus 2" meeting on Afghanistan now in
progress in Tashkent under the U.N. aegis, said that "we are for joint work to
achieve a common goal -- a lasting peace in Afghanistan".
Saying in an interview with Itar-Tass, he noted, among other things, that
"Pakistan participates in the Tashkent meeting with the most noble intentions".
The Pakistani representative stated that the policy of his country with respect to
Afghanistan "is fully determined by an intention to establish a lasting peace in that
country".
"We also understand that a lasting peace can be achieved only by Afghans
themselves. It cannot be established from outside," he added.
Speaking of ways for settling the Afghan conflict, the deputy minister said: "the
Tashkent declaration provides for two stages in a peace process in Afghanistan.
The first stage includes a ceasefire, exchange of prisoners of war and removal of
roadblocks for trade and humanitarian aid.
"Following this stage, the two sides could start talks on forming a multi-ethnic
government. To render assistance to this process, it is necessary to stop
interference in Afghanistan's affairs, especially with military supplies."
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Afghan Taleban, foes agree to bilateral talks
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| fghanistan's ruling Taleban militia and
opposition alliance agreed on Monday to hold bilateral talks early on Tuesday in
a last-ditch bid to stave off a new armed clash in the coming weeks.
Representatives of the warring parties, in Uzbekistan amid tight security for a
two-day meeting of the so-called Six-plus-Two contact group on Afghanistan,
were urged to put an end to 20 years of factional, political and ethnic bloodshed.
U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was cautious on the likely outcome of the
discussions after previous agreements to set up a broad-based government had
failed.
"This is a formulisation of an agreement between the eight countries and for the
first time the two Afghan parties sat down together with those eight countries,"
he told Reuters in the Central Asian state's capital of Tashkent.
"It now all depends on how this is going to be transformed into acts. We will
see, we will see," he added.
Talk of peace comes amid preparations by both sides for a major summer
offensive. The ruling Taleban controls 90 percent of Afghanistan, but has failed
to dislodge fighters loyal to Ahmad Shah Masood from his Panjsher valley
stronghold.
"We know that such preparations are being made by the Taleban," opposition
spokesman Dr Abdullah (one name) told Reuters.
The Six-plus-Two group, comprising the six countries bordering Afghanistan
plus the United States and Russia, drew up a declaration for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict which called for a ceasefire and bilateral discussions.
Brahimi and delegates from the group urged both sides to come to negotiate
before widespread fighting broke out.
"We are very worried about these huge preparations for a new assault by both
sides," Brahimi said. "There were appeals to both sides to refrain from starting
these ritual measures during summer time."
The group's declaration raised concerns over the Taleban concealing and training
"terrorists," saying this posed a threat not only to Afghanistan and its neighbours,
but also further afield.
The United States says the Taleban have harboured Osama bin Laden, a Saudi
millionaire it blames for bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa last year.
The declaration also called for human rights, particularly those of women and
girls, to be observed.
The countries in the group promised to stop providing military support to either
faction and to help Afghanistan control the flood of drugs across its borders.
While stressing that the outcome of Monday's talks was positive, delegates
emphasised that the key meeting between the Afghan parties themselves had yet
to take place.
"We would now like to see a positive movement in response (to the declaration)
from the two sides," Tajik Deputy Foreign Minister Gulomzhon Mirzoyev told a
news briefing.
Taleban Information Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi gave the Tashkent
talks a cautious welcome.
"I am sure these meetings will be helpful for peace in Afghanistan," he said
through a translator.
The opposisition's Abdullah, saying he rued the missed opportunities in the past,
only added: "Why not be hopeful?"
The Taleban had originally refused to attend the Tashkent talks because none of
the Six-plus-Two group's members except Pakistan recognises the Taleban
government.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognise the government,
while Iran backs the opposition groups and the ousted government of
Burhanuddin Rabbani.
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Warring Afghan factions open U.N.-sponsored peace talks
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| fghanistan's warring factions opened two
days of peace talks Monday aimed at ending their conflict in a country that has
not seen peace in more than 20 years.
A U.N. envoy to Afghanistan opened the session between the Taliban religious
army, which rules 90 percent of the country, and the opposition coalition that it
has been battling for control over the rest.
"Afghan people continue to suffer, shots are heard, and people continue to die,"
said the envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, at the opening of the talks, mediated by
Afghanistan's six neighboring countries, plus the United States and Russia.
"We have gathered to put an end to this," he told the gathering in Tashkent, the
capital of this Central Asian nation.
Abdullah, head of the opposition delegation to the talks, told The Associated
Press by telephone that there is only one goal at the conference: "to stop the
fighting." Like many Afghans, he goes by only one name.
The talks will focus on working out the structure for a future multiethnic
government. The opposition, which includes various ethnic and religious
minorities, seeks a loose federal state structure, while the Taliban want a strong
central government.
The delegations are also to discuss exchanging prisoners of war and lifting
blockades that are holding up humanitarian aid, participants told a news
conference.
The Taliban, a Sunni Muslim army drawing its ranks from Afghanistan's ethnic
Pashtun majority, is in control of the capital, Kabul, and is battling the
northern-based opposition on several fronts. On Sunday, the opposition claimed
it had captured two districts in western Ghor province from the Taliban.
In the regions under their control, the Taliban have imposed a strict brand of
Islamic law. Only Pakistan recognizes the movement as the government of
Afghanistan.
The talks in Tashkent will also deal with other disputes between world powers
and the Taliban.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth met with the Taliban
representatives to renew a request for them to hand over Osama bin Laden, the
billionaire Saudi exile accused of masterminding the bombings of two U.S.
embassies in Africa last year.
Washington has imposed sanctions against the Taliban for harboring bin Laden
and offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The mediators also passed a declaration Monday, expressing concern about
human rights violations, including freedoms of ethnic minorities and women, as
well as a steady flow of drugs pouring out of Afghanistan. They also warned the
Taliban against harboring and training terrorists.
The mediators include Pakistan, Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and
Turkmenistan.
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Russia to do its utmost to end war in Afghanistan
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|  ussian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily
Sredin, speaking on Monday at the international meeting of the "6 plus 2" group
on Afghanistan which is now in progress in the Uzbekistan capital under the
U.N. aegis, said "that the Russian Federation will do its utmost, in future too, to
stop the armed confrontation in Afghanistan".
The forum is attended by representatives from Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as by Russian and U.S. delegations. The
meeting is also attended by two Afghan delegations -- the Taliban movement
and the United Front.
Sredin noted that "it is difficult to overestimate the meeting's significance if we
take into account the situation shaping up in Afghanistan". The many-year-long
civil war there takes the lives of a rising number of Afghans.
The country "is threatened with a large-scale, humanitarian disaster which can be
prevented only by joint vigorous efforts of the entire world community", he
noted.
The deputy minister said that there are no grounds so far to speak about
decreasing intra-Afghan tension. The situation in Afghanistan continues to be of
explosive nature.
Taliban fighters do not give up the course for a solution of the conflict by force
and, receiving supplies from outside, are feverishly preparing for a new round of
combat operations.
The Russian representative emphasised that "it is possible to resolve the Afghan
problem only by finding a compromise formula of practical co-existence of
Pashtoons and other Afghan peoples, a formula acceptable for all Afghan forces.
According to Sredin, "formation of a representative and multi-ethnic government
should be a principled move on this road, which is also in line with
recommendations and resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and General
Assembly".
Sredin noted that Russia "is seriously worried over other aspects of the
intra-Afghan crisis". The use of the Afghan territory to train international
terrorists and extremists has a destabilising influence on Central Asia,
Transcaucasia, and North Caucasian region of Russia, he noted.
"We also cannot help worrying over creation of major centres to produce
narcotics in Afghanistan, which are increasingly spreading from there to
neighbouring countries, including Central Asia, then Russia, Europe, and the
United States," Sredin continued.
He stressed that "these and other our concerns, including those on observance of
human rights should be taken into account by Afghan groups, above all the
Taliban movement, if they intend to build relations with the international
community on the basis of generally recognised civil rights and norms of
international relations".
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Taleban, opposition open Afghan talks in Uzbekistan
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| fghanistan's ruling Taleban movement began
U.N.-sponsored peace talks with the opposition alliance in Uzbekistan on
Monday, despite saying it was poised for an offensive against its last remaining
military foe.
The warring parties met in the Central Asian state's capital Tashkent amid tight
security for the two-day meeting of the so-called Six-plus-Two contact group on
Afghanistan.
The meeting, which groups Afghanistan's neighbouring states plus the United
States and Russia, is expected to echo calls by the United Nations for a
broad-based government to end 20 years of factional, political and ethnic
bloodshed in the country.
The Six-plus-Two has failed for years to persuade the hardline Islamic Taleban
and opposition to lay down arms. Previous attempts to create such a
government have broken down.
U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said at the opening ceremony the two sides
were not much closer to finding lasting peace. "We must recognise that these
steps, while encouraging, have not brought us any closer to a peaceful resolution
of the conflict in Afghanistan," Brahimi said.
"The Afghan people continue to suffer the effects of a devastating war, which has
come to be seen as beyond resolution. The continuing war inside of Afghanistan
constitutes a threat to regional peace and security."
Opposition spokesman Dr Abdullah (eds: one name only) said previous
breakthroughs had yielded little.
In contrast, Taleban Information Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi said he
was hopeful for progress, adding that the Taleban was preparing to fight because
the opposition had failed to keep up its side of previous agreements.
Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who among his Central Asian peers is most
worried about the spread of extremist religion from neighbouring Afghanistan,
renewed the call for a broad-based government in Kabul.
The Taleban controls 90 percent of Afghanistan, but has failed to dislodge
fighters loyal to Ahmad Shah Masood, a military commander of the government
which the movement ousted three years ago, from his Panjsher valley stronghold.
It says its administration is already broad-based.
The Taleban had originally refused to attend the Tashkent meeting because none
of its member countries except Pakistan recognises the Taleban government.
The Six-plus-Two group also comprises Afghanistan's neighbours -- China,
Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates recognise the Taleban
government. Iran backs the opposition groups and the ousted government of
Berhanuddin Rabbani.
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Taliban senior officials to attend "Six plus Two" meeting
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| aliban senior official responsible for the
foreign affairs Mulla Mohammad Hasan will lead a delegation in the forthcoming
meeting of the "Six Plus Two" group in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan,
informed sources here said on Saturday.
The delegation will also include Taliban top information official Ameer Khan
Muttaqi, said the Pakistani sources.
Meanwhile Pakistan envoy on Afghanistan Iftikhar Murshid has left for
Uzbekistan to attend the "Six Plus Two" meeting.
The Taliban had earlier put the condition that it would attend the meeting, which
is scheduled on July 19-20 to discuss ways for the peaceful settlement of the
Afghan turmoil, only if invited as the Afghan government.
Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan Lakhdar
Brahimi Saturday sought Pakistan's help to persuade the Taliban to attend the
meeting.
The U.N. envoy, when meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz here,
said it will be in the interest of the Taliban, since they control the major portion of
Afghanistan's territory, to attend the meeting and express their position,
according to a Pakistani Foreign Office statement.
Brahimi arrived here from London early Saturday on his way to Tashkent.
The "Six Plus Two" group comprises Afghanistan's six immediate neighbors
including Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and China plus the
United States and Russia.
Among them, Pakistan is the only country which recognizes the Taliban as a
government.
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Taliban to take part in UN-patroned talks in Tashkent
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| he Taliban movement, which controls 90
percent of Afghan territory, is ready to take part in the Afghan peace settlement
talks planned for July 19-20 in Tashkent.
A Taliban delegation led by Information Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi will
come to the capital of Uzbekistan to explain it stance to the participants in the 6
Plus 2 Meeting patroned by the United Nations, a Taliban spokesman reported
over the telephone from Kandahar on Sunday.
By appeal of the U.N., the meeting participants from all countries bordering
Afghanistan, Russia and the United States will convene in Tashkent to find ways
of stopping the bloody civil war in Afghanistan.
The Taliban movement rejects a peace dialog with the North Alliance troops
commanded by Ahmad Shah Masoud and calls for the latter's capitulation.
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Group on Afghanistan to meet in Tashkent Monday
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| zbekistan's capital will host a meeting of
"the six plus two group" on Afghanistan under the UN auspices on Monday. The
two-day meeting will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers from Iran,
China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan -- the countries which
border on Afghanistan, and involve Russian and US representatives.
A UN delegation is expected to attend the meeting. Official invitations to take
part in the Tashkent meeting were sent to the two main conflicting parties in
Afghanistan.
The participants are expected to exchange views on ways to overcome the
long-standing conflict and may adopt a declaration on the basic principles of
settling the Afghan conflict.
The six plus two group was set up under the UN auspices in 1997 on the
initiative by Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov. It did much during the two
years as regards the working out of common principles and uniform approaches
in the search for ways out of the Afghan crisis.
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