Rebels tell how Minister died

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 8

Rebels tell how Minister died

NZPA > Peshawar The pro-Soviet regime in Afghanistan had succeeded in winning over three large tribes but lost a Cabinet Minister when it tried to buy the loyalty of a fourth, a former French diplomat has said on his return from rebel-held territory. Jean-Christophe Victor, who served as a diplomat in Kabul until 1978, said that insurgents showed him the stone-covered bodies of the Frontier Affairs Minister, Faiz Mohammad, and four aides who were killed Suring a break in talks with Zadran tribesmen of Paktia province, eastern Afghanistan. The tribesmen’s account confirmed many of the details earlier reported by rebel groups. However, he said only one Minister, instead of the two mentioned in other

reports, was killed in a trap set by a rebel chief, JalaJuddin Hakane. Rebels admitted that the ruse that led to Mohammad’s death violated the tribal code, because the Minister had been promised protection in his brother-in-law’s house, where the meeting was to be held. However, the rebels told Mr Victor that the breach was justifiable since the Minister had broken the ancient law by being a Communist and a member of a regime that sent tanks to destroy the tribe’s villages last October. Villagers told the Frenchman that since his brother-in-law did not want blood on his carpets, Mr Mohammad had .been invited outside during the negotiations. He and his aides were then shot by twenty rebels firing simultaneously.