We let Afghanistan fall apart after the victory over the Soviet-backed government in 1992.

The Afghan rebels' war continued, first against the Soviet-backed government and then within their own ranks.

He has worked with the mujahideen forces who were fighting the Soviet-backed government of Afghanistan.

But a spokesman for the seven insurgent groups said they rejected the move by the Soviet-backed Government.

But some other experts on Afghanistan say the Soviet-backed Government can last longer.

And without the presence of Soviet troops, the officials predict, the Soviet-backed Government would not last long.

It is the first time the Soviet-backed Government in Kabul has requested such a meeting.

It said 16 guerrillas were killed in the latest battle to unseat the Soviet-backed Government.

The government is riddled with corruption left over from the Soviet-backed government that lost power last year, American officials say.

But the new Administration is now interpreting "self-determination" to mean the collapse of the Soviet-backed Government.