The World - News from June 8, 1988

Intense fighting between Afghan rebels and government forces apparently has forced Moscow to postpone a withdrawal of its troops from Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second largest city, Western diplomats said. They also said the U.S.-backed guerrillas have captured a district capital on the main highway southwest of the capital of Kabul. Diplomats have predicted that Kandahar may be the first city to fall to the resistance, which has yet to capture a major urban center. Under a Geneva agreement, the Soviets last month began pulling out their troops. Meanwhile, at a U.N. news conference, Afghan President Najibullah said that continued violations by Pakistan of the Geneva accord could force a delay in the timetable for Soviet withdrawal.