AFGHANISTAN: Afghan resistance leaders appealed to President Reagan to break diplomatic ties with the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul and extend full recognition to the resistance,
Presidential spokesman Larry Speaks said Reagan believes that US.A representation in Kabul “plays a role in our efforts to be helpful to the resistance and our efforts to continue working with the Afghan people” against the Soviet occupation.
Ata news conference held by the resistance leaders, Sen. Gordon Humphrey, a leading supporter of the Afghan resistance cause in Congress, urged Reagan to break: ties with the Kabul regime, He said it was “unfortunate and counterproductive” for the U.S, to maintain an embassy in Kabul while still supporting the resistance.
Humphrey and Rep. Charles Wilson said Reagan should support the establishment of government-in-exile by an alliance of resistance groups and push for a seat for it at the United Nations in place of the Kabul government.
But the spokesman for the resistance leaders, Burhanuddin Rab bani, said the group does not in tend to announce the establishment of such a government exile during its visit here and will instead try to set up a government in rebel-held areas inside Afghanistan,
According to Speaks the leaders appealed to Reagan for “effective weapons for air and ground defense,” describing Soviet attacks on Afghan villages. Speaks said Reagan has “pledged to support” the resistance but would not comment further on the extent of US aid,
(Other officials have said that the US. is providing about $50 million year to the resistance, whom Reagan has called “freedom fighters”.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 27, 1986
