Former Afghan Premier Calls Upon Afghans To Rally For Defence Of Islam

In an interview to Qatar's Al-Jazeera TV company, Gulbuddin Hikmatyar, Afghanistan's head of the cabinet overthrown by the Taliban and leader of the Islamic Party of Afghanistan (IPA), said Sunday that all the Afghan leaders should see their goal in defending the country and Islam rather than struggling for power. According to earlier statements made by Gulbuddin Hikmatyar now living in Iran, the IPA will join the Taliban in a bid to repel US aggression against Afghanistan. Local observers believe he is thus seeking to make his comeback to the political scene as successor to Taliban-executed Pashtu leader Abdul Khaq and to win over to his side some Afghan tribes and groupings from the Northern Alliance.