DATE=2/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245077
TITLE=AFGHAN U-S TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL HAS MET WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF
AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN MOVEMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE U-S
MISSILE STRIKES ON AFGHANISTAN LAST AUGUST. AS SARAH HORNER
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, ON THE AGENDA WAS SAUDI DISSIDENT OSAMA
BIN LADEN WHO LIVES IN AFGHANISTAN.
TEXT: U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIA, KARL
INDERFURTH, MET TALEBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, JALIL AKHUND,
LATE WEDNESDAY IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD. BOTH PARTIES
ARE BEING TIGHT-LIPPED ABOUT THEIR TALKS BUT A U-S EMBASSY
SPOKESMAN CONFIRMS OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS DISCUSSED.
MR BIN LADEN HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH AFGHANISTAN AND MOVED
THERE TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO. HE HAS MADE REPEATED THREATS
AGAINST U-S INTERESTS. THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED A
FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO HIS
ARREST. IT SUSPECTS MR BIN LADEN OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOMBINGS
OF U-S EMBASSIES IN AFRICA LAST AUGUST WHICH KILLED 224-PEOPLE.
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ATTACKS, THE U-S CARRIED OUT RETALIATORY
MISSILE STRIKES ON TERRORIST CAMPS ALLEGEDLY RUN BY MR BIN LADEN
IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT -- WHICH EXPELLED OSAMA BIN LADEN SEVERAL
YEARS AGO -- IS ALSO UNHAPPY ABOUT HIS CONTINUED PRESENCE IN
AFGHANISTAN. A FEW MONTHS AGO, SAUDI ARABIA -- ONE OF THE THREE
COUNTRIES RECOGNISING THE TALEBAN AS THE GOVERNMENT OF
AFGHANISTAN -- WITHDREW ITS AMBASSADOR FROM THE AFGHAN CAPITAL
AND EXPELLED THE TALEBAN ENVOY FROM RIYADH.
THE TALEBAN HAS SO FAR REFUSED ALL PRESSURE TO EXPEL MR BIN LADEN
WHO THEY SAY IS NOT INVOLVED IN TERRORISM AND IS THEIR GUEST.
A U-S EMBASSY SPOKESMAN SAYS ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
INDERFURTH AND THE TALEBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO
DISCUSSED A PLANNED REGIONAL MEETING ON AFGHANISTAN.
THE MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED SIX-PLUS-TWO GROUP IS SCHEDULED TO
TAKE PLACE IN MARCH OR APRIL IN THE UZBEK CAPITAL, TASHKENT. THE
GROUP IS A UNITED NATIONS SPONSORED FORUM COMPRISED OF
AFGHANISTAN'S NEIGHBORS ALONG WITH RUSSIA AND THE U-S. IT IS
PART OF A U-N POLITICAL INITIATIVE AIMING TO END TWO DECADES OF
FIGHTING IN AFGHANISTAN.
IN WASHINGTON, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID THE
U-S WANTS TO SEE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED NORMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS
RESPECTED BY THE TALEBAN. MR RUBIN SAID MR INDERFURTH HAD RAISED
THE ISSUE IN HIS MEETING WITH THE TALEBAN, PARTICULARLY ABOUT
WOMEN AND GIRLS.
THE TALEBAN'S STRICT ISLAMIC POLICIES LARGELY PREVENT FEMALES
FROM WORKING OR GETTING AN EDUCATION.
MR INDERFURTH LEFT PAKISTAN THURSDAY TO RETURN TO THE INDIAN
CAPITAL, NEW DELHI, FOR FURTHER TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT THERE.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE U-S VISIT HAS BEEN PREVENTING NUCLEAR
PROLIFERATION IN SOUTH ASIA. BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT
NUCLEAR TESTS LAST YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/SH/PLM
04-Feb-99 8:41 AM EST (1341 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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