MOSCOW: The Soviets Tuesday blamed Pakistan’s “obstructionist” policies for the continuing bloodshed in Afghanistan.
In a statement of the eve of the third anniversary of the beginning of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan the Soviet foreign ministry said a breakthrough in the stalemate was possible if the Afghan opposition and their backers give up the call for the Afghan government’s retirement from the political scene.
A peaceful settlement could get off the ground if the countries that back the Afghan opposition prompt them to cease military escalation and start a dialogue the statement circulated through Tass news agency said.
The Statzeno said the Soviet withdrawal began on May 15 3 years ago and was completed according the schedule of the Geneva agreements creating conditions for reconciliation and peaceful settlement.
It regretted that steps by Kabul and Moscow had not ended bloodshed in Afghanistan This was “mainly due to the obstructionist policies of other forces involved in the conflict above all Pakistan” the statement said.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 24, 1991
