In an international agreement involving the U.S., the USSR, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the signatories pledged that Afghanistan would become a nonaligned country whose neutral status would be guaranteed by the U.S. and the USSR.
Resignation of Pres. Najibullah, who was forced out of office by an alliance of rebel leaders and disaffected army officers. Rebel forces later occupied Kabul without resistance (April 22–24). An interim government took power until Burhanuddin Rabbani was elected president (June 28) by a supreme council of rebel leaders. An electoral assembly confirmed his appointment (Dec. 30), but opponents charged that the election had been rigged.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of the mujahidin, became prime minister. His first step was the announcement of a program to unite and pacify the countryside, which was effectively split into three regions: the Tajik and Uzbek north, controlled by Gen. Abdul Dostam; the south and east (including Kabul), in the hands of Pashtun tribesmen; and the west, lying within the Iranian sphere of influence.
