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- <text id=91TT0787>
- <title>
- Apr. 15, 1991: World Notes:Afghanistan
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1991
- Apr. 15, 1991 Saddam's Latest Victims
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- WORLD, Page 31
- World Notes
- AFGHANISTAN
- What Khost Victory?
- </hdr><body>
- <p> For 12 frustrating years, the stalemated siege of the
- provincial capital of Khost symbolized the inability of the
- mujahedin to make significant gains against the forces of
- Soviet-backed President Najibullah. But that situation changed
- radically last week when the rebels, using anti-mine equipment
- and tanks, concluded a 19-day coordinated attack by overwhelming
- the defending forces. In the chaotic fighting, about 150
- guerrillas and at least 200 government soldiers died.
- </p>
- <p> While news of the rebel victory prompted surprise and
- appreciation from the U.S., it comes at what may be an awkward
- time. Tired of waiting for the rebels to prove themselves on the
- battlefield, Washington has begun urging the resistance to meet
- Soviet demands that the Najibullah government be allowed to
- participate in any postwar national elections. But the rebels,
- bolstered by their sudden success in taking Khost, want to press
- on with the war. Nudging the fighting parties toward a permanent
- peace settlement may be harder than ever.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
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