The World - News from April 3, 1989

Afghan Foreign Minister Abdul Wakil appealed to the United States to change its attitude toward the Kabul government. “We are never going to construct socialism or communism in this land,” Wakil said in an interview in Kabul with the Reuters news agency. “This is not bluff or propaganda; it took a lot of effort and time and energy and work for us to deviate from the extremist policies we used to pursue.” He said the government realizes that without the assistance of Western nations, China and even the Soviet Union, it cannot build a prosperous Afghanistan. He said he regrets that the West does not recognize the change and has declined all negotiations, choosing instead to support Muslim rebels.