Afghan ex-monarch in peace moves

The Taleban still faces military resistance in the north

By Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad

Afghanistan's former monarch, King Zahir Shah, has sent a delegation with a peace proposal to Islamabad, to meet both Pakistani and Taleban officials.

The proposal calls for a convening of a traditional assembly of tribal elders to restore peace in the country.

Zahir Shah has been living in exile in Rome since he was overthrown in a coup in the early 1970s, but he has remained keen to help resolve the conflict in Afghanistan.

The ex-King's delegation, headed by a former Afghan Foreign Minister, Hedayat Amin Arsala, includes a number of Afghan intellectuals and former diplomats.

Zahir Shah lives in exile in Rome

The delegation has met Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, and presented him with Zahir Shah's proposal.

Under the plan, an emergency Loya Jirga - or Grand Assembly - would be convened, to promote reconciliation, peace and unity in Afghanistan.

The assembly is made up of of tribal elders and religious leaders, and traditionally debates matters of community interest within Afghanistan and northern Pakistan.

Pakistan

Mr Sattar told the delegation that Islamabad continued to support the efforts of the United Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to restore peace in Afghanistan.

He also expressed his best wishes for the efforts of Afghan dissident intellectuals working to resolve the crisis in the country, but he did not say if Pakistan would play an active role in helping them.

The representatives of the ex-King are also expected to meet leaders from the Taleban Government in Afghanistan.

Warlords

In the past, the Taleban authorities have rejected such proposals, and it is not clear if they would be willing to soften their stance this time.

Zahir Shah's special envoy has, however, declared that the ex-King is not interested in the restoration of the monarchy, but simply in ending the impasse in the Afghan conflict.

The Taleban, which controls 90% of Afghanistan, is facing military resistance from warlords in the north of the country.

It has established a strict Islamic regime in Afghanistan over the past few years.