THREE AFGHAN GENERALS FORMS NEW ANTI-TALEBAN ALLIANCE
PARIS 31ST March (IPS) General Rashid Dostom and General Abdol Malek, two prominent Afghan military warlords who have fought each other for years have agreed to team up together again fighting the ruling Taleban, a spokesman for the anti-Taleban Northern Alliance told the Persian Service of Radio France Internationale on Friday.
The agreement was immediately welcomed by veteran war warrior Ahmad Shah Mas'oud, Dr Abdullah, the Alliance's official spokesman said.
He said though the alignment between the three warlords is not a new alliance or coalition of anti-Taleban forces, yet it can be considered as a major step towards resisting total domination by the Taleban.
Following meeting between General Dostom and General Malek, Ahmad Shah Mas'oud also had talks with Dostom centred on situation in Afghanistan and the organisation of resistance against the Taleban, Dr abdollah added.
The Northern Islamic Alliance that is led by former President Borhaneddine Rabbani controls some 15 per cent of Afghanistan, the rest being in the hands of the ultra orthodox Muslims known as the Taleban who seized the capital Kabul three years ago.
Both Dostum and Malek are of Uzbek ethny and played a key role in the collapse of the Soviet-backed communist government of Afghanistan in April 1992.
Like other senior afghan leaders, the two former "enemy brothers" live in exile in Iran where they met under Iranian blessing.
Iranian specialists of Afghan questions told Iran press Service that the newly formed alliance between General Dostom, General Malek and Ahmad shah Mas'oud could change the balance of power in Afghanistan, as the both the Northern Alliance and the Taleban are bracing for the traditional spring offensive against each other positions.
"In their meeting in Iran, they both promised to defend our areas from the Taleban and to put an end to its oppression in Afghanistan", Abdollah told Reuters.
He did not confirmed nor denied the news that the Tehran meeting was arranged under the mediation of Iran and Russia, but said that reconciliation between Dostom and Malek would reinforce the position of anti-Taleban forces
Iran and Russia supports the Northern Alliance while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are behind the Taleban.
Dostum, who ruled several northern Afghan province before Malik ousted him in a short-lived alliance with the Taleban in 1997, is thought to have several thousand well-trained soldiers in Uzbekistan, and Masood will now allow Dostum's men to enter Afghanistan.
The Taleban have not yet reacted to the news of reconciliation between Dostom and Malek and their joining forces with Mas'oud.
Asked about the possibility of meeting between Dostom and Malek with Isma'il Khan, the former Governor of Heart who escaped from prison in Qandehar, Dr Abdollah said the "Lion of Heart" was not in Iran but in a safe base of the Alliance inside Afghanistan.
Taleban have promised a big reward to anyone who helps capture Isma'il Khan, a leading commander who fought Soviet occupation before becoming Governor of Herat province. He was captured by the Teleban three years ago when they stormed Heart. ENDS AFQANESTAN GENERALS 31300