The World : Kabul Offers Refugee Deal

Afghan President Najibullah offered to set up a line of demilitarized zones along his country’s border with Pakistan as a means of allowing about 3 million refugees to return home safely. But Western diplomats dismissed the offer as a tacit admission that Afghan government and Soviet forces have lost control of the border areas. Najibullah, in a speech marking the 10th anniversary of Afghanistan’s Marxist revolution, said the offer was part of his “national reconciliation” policy, which has been rejected by the rebels. The army said it has already withdrawn from Barikot, in northeastern Kunar province, and two other garrisons. But the rebels say they captured the three towns in recent fighting.