Afghanistan Signs International Force Deal

04/06/2001| IslamWeb

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's new interim administration and the British leader of an international force to maintain security in its capital signed a formal agreement on Friday allowing peacekeepers to deploy.
Afghan interior minister Mohammad Yunis Qanuni signed the agreement with General John McColl, commander of a U.N.-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) backing the government that replaced the defeated Taliban.
Standing in front of the Afghan and U.N. flags at a signing ceremony in the Foreign Ministry, interim leader Hamid Karzai welcomed the force as Qanuni and McColl shook hands.
But the peacekeeping force has been a source of disquiet for members of the interim administration, with Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim believed to be particularly concerned its presence would dilute the authority of Afghan troops, sources and analysts say.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah tried to calm those concerns.
``There is goodwill and a good spirit of cooperation with ISAF,'' he said. ``We will do our best to minimize any such sensitivity as far as the Afghan community is concerned and there will be full cooperation bilaterally.''