Ms. Hopkins of the Brooklyn Academy says "it would be tough" for the Academy to keep up its high level of international programming without diplomatic backing.

They accomplished this by getting economic help and diplomatic backing from superpowers eager to bid for their support in the grand contest between East and West.

The Western diplomats' view of the session is significant because their countries are important sources of financial and diplomatic backing for this nation.

At the United Nations conference in Bonn, where Afghans met to plan the interim government, Americans also gave diplomatic backing to Mr. Karzai, a little-known figure nationally.

Pakistan said only 19 or 20 of its soldiers had been killed and that it provides only diplomatic and moral backing for rebels fighting in Kashmir.

Chile's new Government needs diplomatic backing as it tries to bring institutions under civil control.

Western diplomats, who asked not to be identified, said they doubted the change would alter Egypt's pro-American military policies because Cairo remained dependent on American aid and diplomatic backing.

While he skirted any specific appeal for American diplomatic backing, Mr. Massoud said useful steps would include reopening of the embassy in Kabul, which was closed in early 1989.

That complicates matters: you need to be ready for a full-fledged campaign on the operational level and have the diplomatic backing lined up as well.

Britain and Austria gave diplomatic backing to this move.