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UN Arranges For Post-Taliban Talks

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South Nexus
October 25, 2001

The United Nations' top envoy for Afghanistan will travel to the region to drum up support for the world body's post-Taliban plans, beginning apparently with a broad-based government and followed by reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.


UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is traveling to Afghanistan this weekend to forge a consensus among various warring Afghan factions for a "homegrown" solution to the crisis.

Brahimi, who had detailed discussions with the UN and American officials and the Security Council, intends to visit all the neighbouring countries and talk with as many Afghan parties as possible.

"What we need in terms of political dispensation for Afghanistan is a genuinely homegrown Afghan movement," he told reporters after a meeting with the Council on Monday.

The United Nations is, however, tight-lipped about its plans for Afghanistan but the indications are that Afghans would be involved right from beginning so that they do not get the impression that something is being imposed on them.

Exiled Afghan King Mohammad Zaher Shah too is holding discussions with various parties and plans to travel to Turkey to meet with representatives of Northern Alliance opposed to Taliban to discuss the future political framework of the administration in Afghanistan.

UN gears up for Afghan refugee influx at new camp in Pakistan Foreign aid workers began screening thousands of Afghans waiting at the border for admittance to the first refugee camp established in Pakistan since September 11. A spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency said, the camp would hold up to 4,000 people who would be registered for a move to one of three camps still being cleared by British charity Oxfam at Tor Tangi, Roghanni and Darra.

Thirty of the most needy families have already been admitted to the Killi Faizo camp close to the Chaman border post in southwest Pakistan, after 200 people were screened by Pakistan authorities on Tuesday.

"This camp is only a temporary arrangement," said Fatomata Kaba, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Above the camp, US fighter jets buzz across the skies on their way into southern Afghanistan as thousands wait on the Afghan side of the border.

Food, tents and water will be trucked into Killi Fazoi until Oxfam has completed its work at the three other sites. This has included clearing unexploded landmines and rockets found in water canals.

Oxfam spokesman Sam Barratt said the preparation of water tankers to support of 20,000 people in Tor Tangi, Roghanni and Darra was complete and work to drill a permanent water supply was underway.

The surrounding area of Chaman and Pakistan's south west Baluchistan province is suffering


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FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.