NEW DELHI: India is prepared to give political asylum to Dr. Najibullah, deposed President of Afghanistan, if he so desire: the Union home minister S.B.Chavan, said here.
The assessment in North block is that he would not like to be seen fleecing from his own country and would seek an honorable exit. This process could take some time in view of the turbulent situation in Afghanistan. The family members of Dr. Najibullah were already in New Delhi and he could, generally speaking, arrive any time.
India is interested in ensuring that no harm _ befalls Dr. Najibullah. It has requested the United Nations to use its good offices for this purpose.
This move has been made in the context of the recent visit to India (and later to Pakistan) by the UN Secretary-General, Boutros Ghali, There are apparently fears about the safety of Dr. Najibullah in the new dispensation in Kabul. The visit of the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to Kabul on the heels of those who had captured power there also spoke eloquently of Pakistan’s interest in boosting fundamentalist forces to the detriment of the moderate elements, home ministry sources observed.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 15, 1992
