Daily urges UN to pressure Taliban to form broad-based government

Tehran, April 30 (IRNA) -- `Tehran Times' i n its opinion column on Monday praising the current visit of the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ruud Lubbers to the region, urged the UN to pressure the Taliban into agreeing to form a broad-based government in the country, based on free and fair elections in which all ethnic groups should be made to participate. Lubbers is at present in Iran and will then proceed to Afghanistan and then to Pakistan, to personally assess the situation of Afghan refugees in these countries.

The Afghan situation continues to be a serious issue, stressed the English-language paper noting that many countries, particularly the Islamic nations, have always shown concern over the plight of the innocent Afghans, especially in view of the reports that the situation in that country is deteriorating. "Peace, security and development of the region, depends to a great tent on the security and stability in Afghanistan," asserted the paper. However, it regretted that foreign powers are coveting this great stretch of mountainous terrain. In fact, due to their eyes on Afghanistan's rich natural resources and strategic location, these powers are not allowing the country to experience any security and stability. But the daily censured the Taliban for refusing to take any concrete action to improve the overall situation in the country.

Although the unrelenting and tireless efforts of the UN to seek a peaceful solution to the Afghan issue is commendable, the paper believed that the "extreme and reactionary attitude of the Taliban, to solve the problem under the present circumstances, seems very unlikely." Currently, over "1.4 million Afghan refugees are registered with the UNHCR," revealed the article adding that the number has risen by some "700,000 in the past few years due to the ongoing drought and renewed factional fighting in that country."

According to another report, the daily noted that over "120,000 refugees are in a camp in Herat, northwest of Afghanistan." Although it praised the humanitarian efforts of some regional countries, including Iran for sending considerable relief supplies to the war-torn country, the article stressed that these gestures are insufficient and called for a "lasting solution to solve the Afghan issue." However, in order to definitely settle the Afghan crisis, the paper in conclusion stressed that the World Body must pressure the Taliban into agreeing to form a broad-based government based on free and fair elections and allowing all ethnic groups to participate.