Afghan opposition maps plan for future

By CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (CNN) -- A conference of around 800 Afghan opposition leaders meeting in Pakistan has endorsed a plan for a post-Taliban government for their country.

Under the plan, Afghanistan's former king would become head of state and a U.N. security force made up from Islamic states would restore order in the war-ravaged country.

The move came at the start of a two-day "Assembly for Peace and National Unity of Afghanistan" conference in the Pakistani border city of Peshawar.

In the meeting, six weeks after the September 11 attacks on the United States, the delegates gave their backing to setting up a "leadership council," comprising personalities "who enjoy the support of the majority of Afghans."

Ex-King

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The conference's organizer Pir Gailani, head of the National Islamic Front of Afghanistan, recommended 87-year-old former King Zahir Shah be lured back from four decades of exile in Rome to be the council's chairman.

Gailani said he and the former monarch had agreed that a caretaker government of technocrats under the ex-king should take over from the Taliban and start drafting an Islamic constitution for the country.

It would also plan a Loya Jirga, or grand assembly, to choose new leaders.

In a bid to get a grip on the many fractious ethnic groups in the country, Gailani also proposed that the United Nations play a role

"During the period of the interim government, a U.N. security force organized from Islamic countries should be deployed in different parts of the country, especially in big cities, to maintain law and order," he said.

This force would hand over its duties after a national army and police force is organized.

The United States has expressed wariness about rushing troops to Kabul before a new leadership emerges. With the exception of Turkey, no countries have come forward offering troops for an international force.

Peaceful Taliban wanted

Far from ruling out participation of the current ruling Taliban, under U.S. attack, Gailani said those who want peace should join, with dissenters providing "significant and fruitful" help in the transition to a broad-based government.

Neighboring Pakistan, who has long ties with the ruling Taliban, has won U.S. support for its idea of including what it calls "moderate Taliban" among Kabul's next rulers.

Delegates to the conference include exiled Afghan military commanders, spiritual leaders and community leaders.

Several dozen people from inside Afghanistan also participated. Delegates said moderate Taliban representatives were also present, but that those people could not disclose their identities to Western journalists.

Several people affiliated with the Northern Alliance, who have fought the Taliban since they took over Kabul in 1996, were also present.