Hoping to close this gap as quickly as possible, the anti-terrorism coalition is focusing attention on a UN stabilization plan.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, outlined the UN stabilization plan November 13. It calls for the establishment of a 2-year transitional government that is supported by a multinational security force. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archives]. The UN Security Council met behind closed doors November 14 to discuss the plan.

Recognizing that the Brahimi plan offers perhaps the best hope for the rapid political stabilization of Afghanistan, key anti-terrorism coalition members are signaling their support. One diplomat at the UN told EurasiaNet: "Anything that Brahimi wants, we'll give him."

At present, there is no political force ready to govern Afghan territory recently conquered by the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. Afghanistan's former monarch, Mohammed Zahir Shah, has been trying to form a broad coalition, but his initiative has been slow in developing. The danger now is that the longer it takes to forge viable administrative structures, the more difficult it will be for Afghanistan to break a vicious cycle of violence that has plagued the country for the last two decades.

Afghanistan has missed earlier stabilization opportunities, most notably in 1992 when the Soviet-backed regime of Najibullah collapsed. International support lagged for the Mujaheddin government that took over from the communist regime. Within several months, disputes among the various Mujaheddin factions, many of which are now part of the Northern Alliance, led to a renewal internecine fighting.

Leading members of the anti-terrorism coalition are sensitive to criticisms of the international community's failure to come to the aid Afghanistan in 1992, and they are eager to avoid a repetition of history. "Last week, we were being criticized for the alleged failure of the military action. This week, there is some criticism of the alleged success of the military action," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told journalists. "We have planned ahead as far as we can."

"If, for example, there had been no discussion and no Security Council resolutions about the future of Afghanistan, no appointment of Ambassador Brahimi … then this criticism would've been justified," Straw added.

The Afghan conflict has a lengthy history of revenge killings, looting, rape and other rights abuses. Straw indicated that, over the near term, US and British armed forces already on the ground in Afghanistan will attempt to provide security in Kabul and other areas in the hopes of averting fresh war crimes that might threaten the peace process. An Iranian diplomat said a substantial presence of international humanitarian aid workers would help the Northern Alliance provide an effective governing administration in newly occuppied areas.

A key to the success of the Brahimi plan will be reducing the level of interethnic suspicion in Afghanistan. Since 1992, almost constant warfare in Afghanistan has fueled animosity among major ethnic groups. The Northern Alliance draws it support primarily from ethnic Uzbeks, Tajiks and Hazaras, while the Taliban comprises mainly Pashtuns, the predominant ethnic group in southern Afghanistan.

Diplomats say that a post-Taliban government must include representatives from all main ethnic groups. "Unless the United Nations is able to put together a political dispensation which is representative of all segments of the Afghan population, conflict and turmoil will continue to afflict that unfortunate country," said Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.

Forging a broad coalition could be hampered by new instances of revenge killings. Both the Northern Alliance and the Taliban have been accused of carrying out summary executions in recent days in northern Afghanistan. However, diplomats asserted that the situation is stable in Kabul, which the Northern Alliance occupied on November 13.

Another important element for the success of the Brahimi plan is the backing of Afghanistan's neighbors. Until recently, neighboring countries, including Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, had pursued divergent political agendas regarding Afghanistan's future. Pakistan had formerly been a staunch supporter of the Taliban, while other nations had provided assistance to the Northern Alliance.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said international meddling in the Afghan conflict had obstructed previous peace initiatives, and urged neighboring states to cooperate rather than compete over Afghanistan. "Unless this happens - on a level of reality, rather than just rhetoric - there can be little hope for lasting stability in Afghanistan," Annan said.

On November 13, Iran, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, among others, endorsed the Brahimi plan, signaling that Afghanistan's neighbors are ready to work together in the reconstruction process.

"We're at a historic moment," said John Negroponte, the US Ambassador to the United Nations. "As terrorism is set to flight, Afghans must know that we will help them rebuild, and support their efforts to achieve the peace that has been so long denied them."

Todd Diamond is a journalist who covers the United Nations.