GERMANY/ INDIA: MINORITY SIKHS DEMONSTRATE FOR INCLUSION IN NEW AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AS RIVAL AFGHAN GROUPS APPEAR HAVE NEARLY REACHED A DEAL

Record ID: 899202

  • Title: GERMANY/ INDIA: MINORITY SIKHS DEMONSTRATE FOR INCLUSION IN NEW AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AS RIVAL AFGHAN GROUPS APPEAR HAVE NEARLY REACHED A DEAL
  • Date: 2nd December 2001
  • Summary: (U5) KOENIGSWINGER, GERMANY (DECEMBER 4, 2001) (REUTERS) SLV JAMES DOBBINS, UNITED STATES SPECIAL ENVOY FOR AFGHANISTAN TALKS WALKING IN CORRIDOR SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DOBBINS "I think that once this new administration is in place it will receive very substantial international assistance."
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 20:49
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KOENIGSWINTER, GERMANY/NEW DELHI, INDIA
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAGFKL1FYKBJ9KUWAK6QWP037S
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Rival Afghans have struck a breakthrough deal on a U.N. blueprint for a new broad-based interim government with hopes of quick unity over who will serve in a new government for their war-battered land.
    Meanwhile, activists of National Akali Dal have held a protest march in New Delhi seeking inclusion of Afghan Sikhs in the next government to be formed in the war-locked country.
    After a week of gruelling talks in a top-security hotel outside Bonn, and with many delegates observing the daylight Ramadan fast, the four Afghan groups on Tuesday (December 4) finally backed an accord to establish a power-sharing government.
    The Northern Alliance, which controls almost all of Afghanistan after U.S. air strikes pushed back the hardline Islamic Taliban, unveiled names overnight after its nominal leader Burhanuddin Rabbani reluctantly gave the go-ahead.
    The only major hurdle still is an agreement on the names in the government and distribution of jobs.
    U.N. hosts and diplomats observing the protracted talks hoped the Afghans would agree overnight on an interim leadership to take over in Kabul later this month, opening the door to multinational peacekeepers and billions of dollars in aid.
    Pashtun tribal chief Hamid Karzai looked set to be named head of the interim administration.
    Western diplomats, always in the wings to remind the Afghans that billions of dollars in reconstruction aid rest on a deal, had said patience was wearing thin on the eighth day of talks.
    They hope to complete negotiations ahead of a Wednesday (December 5) afternoon conference on aid for Afghanistan in Berlin.
    But some observers said it could take until Thursday before the parties were ready to sign a formal deal at a ceremony expected to be attended by senior German politicians.
    The Loya Jirga will elect a transitional authority to govern for about 18 months until a constitution is drawn up and a permanent government elected.
    The text states that a free vote must be held not less than two years after the Loya Jirga.
    The accord asked the U.N. Security Council to consider mandating an international force to Afghanistan to maintain security for the Afghan capital Kabul and surrounding areas.
    But for now, the issue of who will fill which cabinet post is crucial, as each of Afghanistan's main tribes and factions will have to be convinced that it is properly represented.
    The United Nations hopes that rival Afghan factions will sign a deal on a new broad-based interim government including names for an interim cabinet by Wednesday, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
    "If all goes well we hope to have a signing ceremony tomorrow," U.N. spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a briefing.
    But he cautioned: "Anything can go wrong."
    United States special envoy on Afghanistan James Dobbins said: "I think that once this new administration is in place it it will receive very substantial international assistance."
    Ahmad Wali Masood, the brother of the assassinated Afghan guerrilla leader Ahmad Shah Masood said: "I think all of them have got a very good reputation, background and of course Mr Karzai (Royalist Hamid Karzai) the front-runner to head the interim administration)is one of them, who has got a very nationalist standing, and he has of course fought during the Russian invasion - against the Russians, and he is from Kandahar, from heartland of Pashtun, so all of these nominees have got a good background."
    Karzai is the front-runner to head the interim administrtion.
    In India, dozens of activists of National Akali Dal took to streets on Tuesday in New Delhi seeking inclusion of Afghan Sikhs in the new government to be formed in the war-ravaged country.
    Minority Sikh families from Afghanistan have been fleeing to India following tension since the U.S.-led offensive began on October 7.
    Activists carrying placards shouted slogans seeking immediate justice for the Sikh community living in Afghanistan.
    Agitated activists shouted "Give Afghan Sikhs their rights" slogans. They also sought that neighbouring Pakistan be declared a terrorist state.
    Paramjit Singh Pamma, president of National Akali Dal, demanded American intervention in providing Afghan Sikhs a representation in the proposed government.
    Later the enraged activists also burnt Pakistan's flag.
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