Plan to instal Zahir Shah as king

[Guest guest]

Plan to instal Zahir Shah as king

Islamabad, Sep 16

 

 

 

There is a plan being considered by the US to instal the former

king of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, as the legitimate ruler of that

country, after the Taliban regime is overthrown, The News, a

Pakistani newspaper reports.

 

The plan to restore Zahir Shah was originally drawn by

NATO-related security experts from a European country. They

have already been working on restoring the former king through

the so-called "Rome Process" for several months, according to

The News.

 

The aides of the former king, who is living in Italy since

dethroned by his cousin in 1974, were actively consulted during

preparations of the plan.

 

The paper criticized Russia, India and Israel for being almost

loud and indecent in expressing their hasty willingness to join

the USA in fighting "the global war against terrorism."

 

"But Washington fully realizes that they want to join for their very

own reasons. The USA also appreciates the limits of Tajikistan

and Uzbekistan, where Islamic radicalism is becoming a

serious political threat."

 

Most diplomats in Islamabad do not expect the repeat of

attempts to cripple Osama Bin Laden through aerial attacks only,

as Clinton tried doing in 1998. "Washington has to commit its

ground forces this time around," an European diplomat told the

newspaper.

 

Another diplomat claimed that an oil tanker, carrying 235,000

barrels of diesel fuel was already approaching Diego Garcia, the

British developed military base in the Indian Ocean. A good

number of B-52 bombers are also stationed there with the

capacity of firing the cruise missiles.

 

The News also reported on the mobility of another oil tanker to

Moron air base in the south of Spain. KC-10 tanker aircraft which

can do the refueling of the US fighters in the air are stationed on

this base.

 

The News said in its report, troops of 82nd airborne division,

stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and the Kentucky based

101st would begin flying off to the assigned destinations. They

can also be joined by soldiers of 1st Infantry, already on exercise

in Kuwait these days. As many as 500 Abrams tanks are also

available to them.

 

Meanwhile, speculations were rife in Islamabad that Russians

were willing to do "the soldiering for Americans in Afghanistan," if

provided with the lethal air cover.

 

A senior European diplomat told The News that while moving

into Afghanistan, Washington will do everything to convey it to the

mass of Muslim people that it had nothing against them per se.

"It will also want to appear as if prudently caring for the people of

Afghanistan while taking its revenge," he said.