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Afghan President Returns Triumphant to Kabul
KABUL, Nov 17 (IslamOnline and News Agencies) - Exiled Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani returned triumphantly to Kabul on Saturday but insisted his Northern Alliance would not try to monopolize power after the downfall of the Taliban, news agencies reported.
"We will try to form a broad-based government as soon as possible, it depends on the seriousness of the Afghan people and the United Nations," Rabbani told a press conference hours after his arrival from his base in the north of the war-stricken country.
Rabbani pledged to speed up the process and dismissed suggestions that the Northern Alliance was dragging its feet in forming a government representing all Afghan groups.
"If there is a delay because of the United Nations we should not be blamed," he said "I supported U.N. proposals in the past and we will support it [now] in the interests of peace."
Rabbani was forced out of Kabul by the Taliban in 1996 but has remained the U.N.-recognized head of state.
The Northern Alliance returned victoriously to Kabul on Tuesday after the Taliban retreated, entering the capital despite U.S. and British pleas to stay out until political arrangements could be finalized.
The Alliance, a loose coalition of ethnic Tajiks and Uzbeks from northern Afghanistan, has since started forming an interim administration that it has said Rabbani will head.
But Rabbani insisted, "We did not come to Kabul to extend our government, we came as a reaction."
He added, "The presence of resistance fighters and mujahideen in Kabul reflects a reality not anything else. It will pave the way for a
loya jirga [grand council].
"The victory does not belong to one ethnic group but all Afghan people."
Rabbani went on to say "we will try to form a broad government. We have always supported the traditional process of the
loya jirga and it will elect the country's leaders."
A loya jirga is a grand assembly of Afghan elders and other leaders called in times of national crisis.
The Alliance leader reaffirmed that the coalition of anti-Taliban groups had invited Afghan leaders to come to Kabul for talks on a future government. But the United Nations has said a conference should be held in a neutral venue.
The United Nations has also given backing to ex-king Mohammad Zahir Shah, who lives in exile in Rome, as a possible leader of a transitional government that could unite all of Afghanistan's rival factions. Shah has also been at the heart of U.S. attempts to establish a post-Taliban government.
When asked about the former monarch heading a transitional government, Rabbani said, "We will expect a decision of the people.
"It is up to the loya jirga to decide who will lead a transitional government. We still have good relations with the Rome process."
Supporters of Zahir Shah, a Pashtun like most of the Taliban, have launched their own contacts in Afghanistan on forming a new government.
The United Nations deputy envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell arrived in Kabul on Saturday for talks on a new government. But it was not known if he would meet with Rabbani.
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