The PONM -- a conglomerate of various nationalist forces including Balochistan National Party (BNP) and Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) -- is of the view that the people in the Taliban-controlled areas are forced to support them for the sake of their survival. They believe that the Taliban regime never enjoyed the support of the Afghan people.

On the contrary, the religious groups observe that it were the Taliban who restored peace and stability in a major area of Afghanistan. They say that during the Taliban rule, the crime rate was brought to zero and people felt no fear of life a situation which was never observed before. They are of the view that since the fall of Kabul to Northern Alliance, lawlessness has crept into the country, causing insecurity among the people and uncertainty among the potential ruling powers.

Dr Abdul Karim, a resident of Kandhar, told The News that peace and tranquillity would be a far star in the post-Taliban era. Deputy Chairman PMAP Abdul Rahim Khan Mandokhel said: "It is the collective wish of his party and PONM that there be a broad-based and multi-ethnic democratic government under the leadership of former king Zahir Shah, and people could lead their lives according to the Afghan tradition and values irrespective of creed and colour."

Mandokhel said the successive governments in Pakistan and Punjab, a group of Arabs as well as the US and the UK are responsible for introducing the Taliban in Afghanistan and bringing about deterioration.
BNM's Dr Abdul Haye Baloch said that the Afghan tribal elders should form a broad-based government so that the Afghan refugees could go back to their homes. He strongly condemned the US-led coalition forces' attacks on the poor Afghan people.

"Now, all eyes are set on the Bonn conference, where the fate of the Afghan nation is being determined," he said. The nationalist forces of Balochistan believe that the measures to form a transitional government in Afghanistan are well directed. However, they underline the need to accelerate the pace of the efforts so that the thousands of refugees could return to their motherland and play a vital role in its reconstruction.

It is high time for both the world community and the Afghan ethnic groups to streamline their efforts in order to bring democracy to the war-shattered country in the best interest of the Afghan nation, who have been suffering badly for over two decades. By Muhammad Ejaz Khan Jang Daily 4.12.2001