‘US planning to overthrow Taliban’
The United States is planning to overthrow Afghanistan’s Taliban Government and replace it with a UN-backed regime, according to a British newspaper.
Quoting a secret cable transmission from the US Embassy to a key NATO ally, the newspaper says America wants to topple the Taliban and reinstate the exiled King Zahir Shah.
The secret cable says the US is determined to use force against the Taliban because of its support for Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in last week’s attacks against the US.
According to the newspaper, the US is currently pressing its European allies to agree to a military campaign to overthrow the Taliban.
The secret cable says the US is keen to hear views on "post-Taliban Afghanistan after the liberation of the country".
It also says the US is organising and funding a return to power for King Shah, who will then encourage the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, a rebel army that controls 5% of Afghanistan, to fall in behind him.
"The King plans to call on all the Afghan tribes to rise up against the Taliban," the diplomatic cable said.
