By Amin Mudaqiq
Information Assistant, U.S. Embassy Kabul

Kabul -- President Bush's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has offered the United States' condolences to the families of victims killed in Monday's earthquake in Afghanistan, and says the United States will provide relief assistance.

Afghan Interim Authority Chairman Hamid Karzai has estimated that the earthquake killed at least 1000 people. Khalilzad said U.S. earthquake assistance would be forthcoming. The United States has given billions of dollars, more than any other international donor, to help Afghanistan recover from decades of civil war, terrorist rule and drought.

At a press conference in Kabul March 26, Khalilzad said the United States supports extending the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the international troops which provide security in Kabul, beyond June 1 until at least December 1.

He said the extension of the ISAF mandate is needed to support the political process of the Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of Afghan elders, which will appoint a transitional head of government, approve a constitution and prepare for elections at the end of the transitional government.

Khalilzad said the question of whether to send ISAF troops to areas outside Kabul is "not on the table in the immediate future." He said the countries that supply troops to ISAF apparently do not want to expand the ISAF security zone at this time.

Concerning the threats still posed by al Qaeda and the Taliban, Khalilzad said, "We understand that they are planning more attacks in eastern and southern Afghanistan as the weather warms up, and the United States is ready to meet that challenge," Khalilzad said.

"Undoubtedly we will win this war and the military victory is vital, but in the meantime, you need to win the battle on political, economic and reconstruction fronts as well," he added.

Khalilzad said that each battle is linked with the others and, if one is lost, then victory in the war will be affected. He said that if the ruling authority in Afghanistan were to side with one tribe against the others, this would give the Taliban and Al-Qaeda an opportunity to bolster their influence.

The special envoy said some elements in Iran, mostly hardliners who fear the formation of a moderate government in Afghanistan and the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, have been meddling in Afghanistan's affairs. He said the majority of Iranians and the elected members of the Iranian government do not support meddling in Afghan affairs.

He said the U.S. government never intends to have a permanent military base in Afghanistan, but would oppose any effort by Iran or any other country to meddle in Afghan affairs.

Khalilzad said the return of the former King Zahir Shah to Afghanistan, scheduled for March 26, has been delayed by concerns over his security arrangements. The Afghan forces who will be charged with helping to protect the King are still in training. Khalilzad said the decision to postpone the trip was a technical, not a political, one. He said the Interim Authority says it welcomes the return of the former king at any time.

When the Loya Jirga is convened, Khalilzad said it should address the needs and requirements of today's world and include all segments of Afghan society, including women. He said he is confident that the outcome of the Loya Jirga will be acceptable to the Afghan people and international community.

Khalilzad said he has been delighted to see two things happen in Afghanistan during his most recent trip: a free celebration of the beginning of the new year in Afghanistan (Nawruz) and the beginning of the new Afghan school year with both girls and boys attending school.

Girls were banned from going to school for six years under the Taliban.

"I am happy to know the United States has assisted in bringing about these two changes," Khalilzad said.