IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY AND THE JUST

FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE FOR THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN
(APRIL 19, 1998)

The members of the United Islamic National Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan, in order to establish lasting peace and national reconciliation, heal the wounds inflicted by twenty years of devastating war, and provide for the social and economic welfare of the people, do hereby offer this framework for peace for the people of Afghanistan:

1. The United Front and the Taliban shall cease-fire and all heavy weapons shall be withdrawn from the front lines. The city of Kabul shall be de-militarized, and the exchange of all prisoners of war shall commence.

2. A transitional government shall be established in Kabul for a period of six months to one year, and shall be composed of either of the following:
Impartial persons who are not members of the United Front or the Taliban; or
Impartial persons, and persons who are members of the United Front and the Taliban; or
Only those persons who are members of the United Front and the Taliban.

3. During the transitional period between the cease-fire and the formation of a new government of Afghanistan, the transitional government shall exercise the following powers:
Maintain the cease-fire, and oversee the process of peace and reconciliation throughout Afghanistan.
Collect all the heavy weapons, and form the nucleus of a national army.
Administer the provinces, major cities, and districts in consultation and cooperation with the influential and respected persons in those local areas.

4. The transitional government shall form an assembly ("shura") representing all the people of Afghanistan. The sole purpose of this assembly is to draft the Constitution of Afghanistan ("Basic Law of Afghanistan"). The Constitution of Afghanistan shall define the type of government that the people of Afghanistan desire.

5. The transitional government shall form a Grand Assembly ("Loya Jirga") to approve the Constitution of Afghanistan. Upon approval, a new government shall be formed in accordance with the constitution, and all national power shall be transferred from the transitional government to the new Government of Afghanistan.

WE SEEK THE SUCCESS OF THIS PEACE PLAN FROM ALMIGHTY GOD

Signed by the following leaders of the United Front:

Said Mustafa Qasemi, Chief of Military Committee and Chief of Foreign Relations, Wahadat-I-Islami (Akbari branch).

General Abdul-Rashid Dostum, Leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan; Deputy to the President, Islamic State of Afghanistan; High Commander of Northern Regions, Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Mohammad Karim Khalili, Leader of Wahadat-I-Islami, Afghanistan.

Said Mohammad Ali Javid, Deputy Prime minister, Islamic State of Afghanistan; Chief of Central Committee, Harakat-I-Islami, Afghanistan.

Aji Mohammad Mohaqaq, Minister of Home Affairs, Islamic State of Afghanistan; Chief of Executive Council for Northern Regions, Wahadat-I-Islamic, Afghanistan.

Aji Abdul Kadir, Chief of Council for the East Provinces of Afghanistan.

Ahmad Shah Masud, Deputy to the President, Islamic State of Afghanistan; Minister of Defense, Islamic State of Afghanistan.

Juma Khan Hamdard, Director of Military and Political Affairs, Northern Regions, Isbi-Islami, Afghanistan.

Professor Burhamudin Rabbani, President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
(Signed into force, 9:30 A.M., April 19, 1998, at the Office of the President, Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan.)

[This is an authorized English text. Roger L. Plunk, mediator.]