DATE=8/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236823
TITLE=AFGHANISTAN / IRANIANS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NINE IRANIANS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM CENTRAL
AFGHANISTAN ON A U-N FLIGHT FOLLOWING CONCERNS OVER SECURITY
AFTER TALEBAN MILITARY ADVANCES. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: THE IRANIANS ARRIVED IN ISLAMABAD FROM BAMIYAN PROVINCE,
HEADQUARTERS OF THE OPPOSITION HEZBI-WAHDAT (AFGHAN) FACTION
WHICH IRAN IS ACCUSED OF SUPPORTING. PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTRY
AUTHORITIES SAY MOST OF THE IRANIANS WERE OFFICIALS AT THE
IRANIAN CONSULATE IN BAMIYAN. THE IRANIANS DID NOT SPEAK TO
REPORTERS.
THE TALEBAN HAVE INDICATED BAMIYAN WILL BE THE NEXT TARGET IN
THEIR PUSH TO CONTROL ALL AFGHANISTAN. SUNDAY, THE TALEBAN
ATTACKED A PROVINCE BORDERING BAMIYAN AND HAVE BEEN BLOCKADING
SOME ROADS INTO THE PROVINCE.
THE EVACUATION FROM BAMIYAN FOLLOWS IRANIAN CONCERNS OVER THE
SAFETY OF IRANIAN CONSULAR PERSONNEL IN THE NORTHERN AFGHAN CITY
OF MAZAR-I-SHARIF, WHICH THE TALEBAN CAPTURED SATURDAY.
IRAN ACCUSED THE TALEBAN OF SEIZING 11 DIPLOMATS AT THE IRANIAN
CONSULATE. BUT THE TALEBAN DENY THE CHARGE AND SAY THE
DIPLOMATIC COMPOUND WAS EMPTY WHEN TALEBAN SOLDIERS ARRIVED.
BUT, THE TALEBAN SAY THEY ARRESTED 35 IRANIAN DRIVERS OF MILITARY
TRUCKS IN MAZAR-I-SHARIF WHO WERE ALLEGEDLY HELPING SUPPLY
OPPOSITION FORCES. THE TALEBAN SAY THE IRANIANS ARE BEING
TRANSFERRED TO THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT'S HEADQUARTERS IN KANDAHAR
AND TALEBAN OFFICIALS HAVE ASSURED TEHRAN THE DRIVERS WILL BE
PROTECTED.
MEANWHILE, IRAN HAS SAID IT WILL HOLD PAKISTAN RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE MISSING DIPLOMATS. IRAN HAS LONG ACCUSED PAKISTAN OF
SUPPORTING THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/KL/RAE
10-Aug-98 10:17 AM EDT (1417 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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