Shevardnadze Says Iran Supports Talks to End Afghan Conflict

MOSCOW — Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze said Monday that Iran is showing a new realism in its attitude toward the Afghan conflict, and he expressed hope that Pakistan will join negotiations for a settlement.

He told the Afghan news agency Bakhtar that Iran, which like Pakistan has provided bases for thousands of Muslim rebels, has adopted a “wholly positive attitude” on the problem of Afghanistan.

“Iran is calling for broad internal Afghan dialogue, the aim of which is to create a representative government reflecting the whole political spectrum of Afghanistan,” he said.

Last week, Shevardnadze held talks in Tehran with Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani, after which both men said their positions on Afghanistan had grown closer.

The text of the interview with Bakhtar was distributed by the Soviet Foreign Ministry as Shevardnadze flew home from a 24-hour visit to Kabul, where he held talks with Afghan President Najibullah.

Rebel rockets pounded Kabul again Monday, killing at least 10 people and wounding nearly 40. More than 40 rockets fell, some landing on a fruit market and others on the city’s leading hotel, the Continental, briefly setting it ablaze but causing no casualties.