PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan 3, Reuter: Afghan Mujahideen guerillas announced plans on Tuesday for an assembly to govern Afghanistan and confirmed they would hold further talks with the Soviet Union.
Rebel leader Sibghatullah Mojaddidi told a news conference the assembly, or temporary Shora, would be selected by the seven parties which make up the Pakistan based alliance fighting the Soviet backed government in Kabul.
“Time is too short to hold elections in Afghanistan so we have decided to select a temporary Shora made up of commanders, intellectuals, political leaders in Tran and others,” said Mojaddidi.
He said the Assembly would convene in two or three weeks’ time and make preparations to administrator Afghanistan after the withdrawal of Soviet Troops, due to be completed next month.
He added that guerrilla commanders would make up 50 percent of the Assembly and all parties would have an equal share of appointments.
Mojaddidi, who took over the revolving chairmanship of the alliance two days ago, confirmed the rebels will hold talks in Islamabad later this week with Soviet first Deputy foreign Minister Yuli Vorontsoy, who is Ambassador to Kabul.
“The agenda has been set by the Mujahideen and it includes our demands for the immediate and total withdrawal of Soviet troops and advisers and their puppet government,” Mojaddidi told reporters.
Pakistani and rebel sources in Islamabad said Vorontsov would arrive in the Pakistan capital on Wednesday. Mojaddidi told the news conference the meeting would take place within the next two or three days.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 6, 1989
