Are the views of neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Iran being taken into account?
What about Russia? The views of neighbouring countries will be taken into account but will not determine the outcome, nor will they be a specific part of the conference. The UN special representative for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, says there has to be a “home-grown” solution. This means that Pakistan, though it opposes the Northern Alliance, will have to accept that the alliance is a major player and that Russia, which supports the alliance, knows that its allies do not have complete control. As the force that controls the capital, Kabul, does the Northern Alliance hold all the cards? The Northern Alliance holds major cards, but not all of them. It has possession of Kabul, but it does not have the allegiance of all the Afghan tribes, especially the Pashtun. The alliance has said it is willing to share power. Its intentions will now be tested. The alliance has the military might of the United States behind it and will not want to put that at risk – a powerful incentive for it to comp
