Warring Afghan factions agree to UN-monitored peace agreement
Leaders of two factions in northern Afghanistan today signed an agreement designed to reduce tensions in the area where tank-led battles caused high casualties Wednesday and Thursday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported today.
Leaders of two factions in northern Afghanistan today signed an agreement designed to reduce tensions in the area where tank-led battles caused high casualties Wednesday and Thursday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported today.
Generals Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ustad Ata signed the agreement calling for mutual troop withdrawals in the presence of the Deputy chief of UNAMA, Jean Arnault, and British Ambassador Ron Nash, according to a dispatch from the Mission in the capital Kabul.
The fighting between General Dostum's Jumbesh faction and General Ata's Jamiat in Jawjan and Balkh provinces began on Wednesday and continued overnight with Jumbesh apparently gaining the upper hand, according to UNAMA.
"The conflict was very intense with both sides using tanks as well as mortars and claiming high numbers of casualties," UNAMA said, adding that it was not able to determine the numbers of dead and injured.
The agreement signed today, besides calling for mutual troop withdrawals, also stipulates that both sides investigate the incidents and that UNAMA and the US-led coalition monitor the peace.