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Taliban Said To Reject UNHCR Ceasefire Proposal
KABUL, May 3 (News Agencies) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Thursday rejected a six-month ceasefire proposed by U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ruud Lubbers, saying it would only prolong the conflict, news agencies reported.
Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel told reporters the Taliban could not trust the northern-based opposition groups to observe the ceasefire.
"We think this ceasefire will further lengthen the conflict," Mutawakel said, after long talks here with Lubbers.
He accused the opposition forces headed by ex-president Burhanuddin Rabbani of violating a three-day ceasefire called last month for an U.N.-backed polio vaccination campaign.
"How can we expect them to observe such a long-term ceasefire?" he asked.
Mutawakel said opposition fighters under military commander Ahmad Shah Masood should surrender to the Taliban, which commands most of the country.
"They should surrender themselves in the interest of the people, not the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan," he said, adding that it was possible to discuss some power-sharing formula later on.
Lubbers said he was disappointed with the Taliban's response.
"I said to him [Mutawakel]: 'I have to be honest with you I am not happy with this'," he told a press conference before leaving for Pakistan.
Lubbers said it was a "shame" that the two sides continued fighting at a time when the people were suffering from poverty and drought.
He said Iran and Pakistan, far from being receptive to more Afghan refugees, wanted the 3.7 million, already taking refuge in their countries, to be repatriated.
Mutawakel appealed to the host countries not to harass or use force to deport the refugees while calling on the international community to do more to encourage Afghans to stay at home.
He said many were forced out of their villages not just because of the fighting, but also due to a lack of access to education, healthcare, and the presence of landmines.
"The U.N. could help in these spheres," he said.
Lubbers also confirmed that both the Taliban and Masood were geared up for a summer season of fighting, which he said would further hinder the influx of aid to the country.
Lubbers, who arrived in Afghanistan on Sunday to assess the humanitarian situation of Afghanistan's internally displaced population, talked with Rabbani on Wednesday in Badakhshan, the only major province under full control of the opposition.
The UNHCR chief in his talks with Rabbani proposed a possible truce to help 800,000 Afghans uprooted by drought and war.
"I made it clear that I do not see a political solution coming quickly and therefore if we have to be really productive with humanitarian efforts, we really need a break of six months or a year in the fighting," Lubbers said.
Rabbani, for his part, said, "there should be a ceasefire not only for six months, but the war should be stopped for all time."
Lubbers, however, said he was "cautious" with the promises made by Rabbani as his military strongman Masood was not present during the talks.
Rabbani told Lubbers he was always ready for peace but vowed to continue to "defend" his territory against attacks from the Taliban.
Opposition officials said the Taliban had launched a pre-dawn offensive Thursday on opposition positions near Dara-e-Shahidan pass, 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Bamiyan city.
The fighting was intense in the Surkh Dara area close to the city, they said, adding that the frontlines remained unchanged.
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