The September 11th attack | America strikes back
Afghan alliance told to hold position
Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Pervez Musharraf called on Afghanistan's opposition not to take advantage of the U.S. and British military attacks against Osama bin Laden and his allies in the ruling Taliban.
Associated Press
Musharraf called for a short military campaign, targeting bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network, which the United States believes was behind the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.
President Pervez Musharraf fears loss of influence in Afghanistan.
Musharraf said the attacks were "against terrorists, terrorism, their sanctuaries and their supporters."
Musharraf said he had told President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair that "this action should not be allowed to be taken advantage of by the northern alliance," referring to the Afghan opposition coalition fighting the Taliban.
"The northern alliance must not draw mileage out of this action and the post-action has to be balanced," he added.
Pakistan has maintained close ties for years with the Taliban and is the only country that recognizes the Islamic militia as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Pakistan fears a loss of influence in a volatile neighboring country if the northern alliance takes power.
The Pakistani concerns came at a time when U.S. defense officials say one goal of the initial strike was to weaken the Taliban's military defenses so that rebel Afghans could advance in their effort to overthrow the Taliban.
"Our interest is to strengthen those forces that are opposed to al-Qaida and opposed to the Taliban leadership ... so that they will have better opportunities to prevail," Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said.
Musharraf said that once the military campaign is over, efforts must be undertaken to ensure "the unity, the stability of Afghanistan and bring peace into Afghanistan."
He said that any future government must be broad-based and multiethnic and not "imposed on Afghanistan."
