Turkey offers to host Afghan opposition meeting

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said today his country was willing to host a meeting by Afghan opposition groups to discuss a new government once the Taliban is defeated.

Ecevit would not, however, confirm news reports that the northern-based opposition alliance fighting the Taliban and representatives of former King Mohammed Zaher Shah were scheduled to meet in Istanbul later this week.

‘‘Afghanistan’s misfortune has been that opposition groups have not been able to unite to oppose the (Taliban) regime,’’ Ecevit said. ‘‘Such a meeting is quite necessary.’’

‘‘If they wish to meet, we would be happy to host a meeting.’’

Under a proposal backed by the former King and other opposition leaders, Afghan groups would call a national assembly that would decide Afghanistan’s leader and form a new government.

The assembly could then serve as a transitional government before a permanent one is in place.

Turkey, Nato’s only Muslim member, has offered to train anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan. It has also suggested that it could take part in peacekeeping efforts in Afghanistan when conditions are right.