In retrospect, taking Kabul may have been the easy part. The more difficult is to get the right ethnic combination of leaders to replace the Taliban regime. The Northern Alliance, dominated by minority tribal groups, is devoid of powerful leaders from the majority Pashtoon community, which constitutes 40 per cent of the population. Before the war began, the UN had worked out an agreement towards providing an interim government headed by the former King Zahir Shah, a Pashtoon himself. Key decisions on the future of Afghanistan is to be taken by a newly constituted supreme national council or shura of 120 members. Half of these members was to be decided by the Northern Alliance. The king and his aides are to choose the other 60 members, including important defectors from the Taliban.The council is to convene a loya jirga or meeting of traditional tribal leaders to work out a two-year political transition plan. To balance out interests of various countries involved, including India, the UN may expand its initiative on Afghanistan from eight nations to 21. Pen profiles of the players of the new dispensation in Kabul:

NORTHERN ALLIANCE

BURHANUDDIN RABBANI: Rabbani, a Tajik, is a former professor of Islamic law at Kabul University and founder of the Jamiat-e-Islami. In 1992, Rabbani became president of the mujahideen government but fled when Kabul fell to the Taliban in 1996. He continues to be recognised by the UN as President though his position is insecure.

MOHAMMED FAHIM KHAN: The former intelligence chief of assassinated Tajik leader Ahmed Shah Masood, he is commander of the Northern Alliance. He is one of the front-runners for the defence minister's post in any future Afghan government and is backed by the powerful triumvirate of Russia, India and Iran.

YONUS QUANOONI: Interior minister of the Northern Alliance, the 44-year-old Quanooni is expected to play a major political role. He was defence and interior minister when the Alliance earlier ruled Kabul and is considered an excellent coordinator. In the running for prime minister.

ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM: The controversial 47-year-old former communist Uzbek leader has switched loyalties many times since he fought against the mujahideen. He fled to Turkey after Mazar-e-Sharif fell to the Taliban in 1997 and returned to northern Afghanistan only recently with US help. Holds Mazar; will demand his pound of flesh.

ISMAIL KHAN: The 54-year-old Tajik who now controls Herat was in the pro-Moscow Afghan Army before joining Rabbani's Jamait-e-Islami. He installed himself as "Amir of Herat" in 1992. Was captured by Taliban but escaped. Now considered a prime ministerial candidate.

ABDULLAH ABDULLAH: Half-Tajik and half-Pashtoon, Abdullah is the suave face of the Northern Alliance. Although he is the foreign minister of the Northern Alliance, Abdullah derives his power from Alliance commanders such as Fahim Khan and Ustad Atta. He is a qualified doctor and is fluent in English and French.

ABDUL KARIM KHALILI: Head of the Shia Hazara party called Hezb-e-Wahadat-e-Islami. Primarily backed by Iran, the party's main base is located in Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan. Is now in control of the province and will have a say in the power play.

OTHER LEADERS

ZAHIR SHAH: Former king of Afghanistan who was toppled from power in 1973. The 86-year-old Pashtoon leader, who has been living in exile in Rome, has been active in charting out the future of post-Taliban Afghanistan through his contacts in the US and Pakistan. Shah will now possibly head an interim government at Kabul backed by the UN. Many still look upon his rule with fond memories. Now aging, he may not be acceptable to the Northern Alliance. His role is to bring a strong Pashtoon representation in the new set up emerging in Kabul.

HAMID KARZAI: The man who may be president. Karzai was Afghanistan's first deputy foreign minister between 1992-94. The 42-year-old leader inherited the title "Khan" of the five lakh Popalzai Pashtoon who inhabit the southern Kandahar region after his father Abdul Ahad Karzai was murdered in Quetta by the Taliban in July 1999. Backed by the US, Karzai is a westernised and moderate face of Afghanistan. He has raised the banner of revolt against the Taliban in Kandahar.

JALALUDDIN HAQQANI: Projected as the moderate face of the Taliban by Pakistan, 57-year-old Haqqani is the minister for frontier affairs of the Taliban government. A Ghilzai Pashtoon and former member of Hizb-e-Islami (Khalis) faction, Haqqani led the Islamic movement against Mohammed Daud in 1974. A leading mujahideen commander, Haqqani was the favourite of isi and received covert CIA support during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Likely to switch allegiance after the fall of Kandahar.

PIR GAILANI: The 67-year-old Pashtoon spiritual leader is considered an Islamic moderate and relatively secular in his views. Supports the return of Zahir Shah to lead a loya jirga which would then write a new constitution for Afghanistan that is acceptable to all ethnic and political groups. A favourite of the ISI and recipient of CIA aid during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

MAULVI YOUNUS KHALIS: Former anti-Soviet Pashtoon mujahid whose party, the Hizb-e-Islami, once included Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar. Studied at the Haqqania madarsa in Peshawar before establishing his own school inside Afghanistan. Not a CIA favourite, he lost out to the more radical Islamic parties then and later to the Taliban. Has recently resurfaced to take Jalalabad.