PESHAWAR, Oct 19: None of the Taliban commanders or ministers have so far defected or joined hands with the anti-Taliban forces manoeuvring for the establishment of a broad-based government in Kabul.
The seven-party alliance, which had fought a US-sponsored long war against the four successive communist regimes in Afghanistan, is being reorganised to manage a lion’s share in the underway post- Taliban arrangements.
Some of the old commanders, known for their consorting with the US officials, are heard complaining about the non-cooperation of the Americans. They are desperately asking for weapons, but no one is hearing them.
Some of the commanders, who have remained idle in Peshawar during the last 10 years, are becoming active. They are free to summon their soldiers, hold meetings and consent with the Afghan leaders abroad.
Once well-organized, the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (Hekmatyar) had summoned a meeting of its 20 commanders at Shamshatoo refugee camp to discuss the future line of action of the group.
Qutbuddin Hilal presided over the meeting. Gulbadin Hekmatyar, at present staying in Tehran, had been the main choice of the Pakistan establishment during war against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
Considered as pro-Pakistan Afghan commander among Pashtun leaders of Afghanistan, he was the main recipient of the US military aid during 1979-1989 and a close ally of the then military regime of Gen Ziaul Haq.
He was also first among the Afghan commanders who had presented a future political plan to the Taliban regime five month ago. But, Taliban turned it down.
The Shoora-i-Nizaar of eastern province also held its meeting on Thursday in Peshawar. Besides religious leaders, tribal elders and Shoora members, some 14 old Mujahideen commanders hailing from Laghman, Kunar, Nangarhar and Nooristan attended the meeting, which urged the Taliban leadership to quit immediately.
They also warned that they would forcibly dislodge them to save the country.
From the Haq brothers, commander Abdul Haq is back in the city.
He is shuttling between Peshawar and Rome and showed his allegiance with the political force led by the former king Zahir Shah to find out a political solution of the present crisis.
His one brother, Haji Qadeer, is siding with the Northern Alliance.