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DATE=8/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236908
TITLE=RUSSIA / AFGHANISTAN (L)
BYLINE=RENE SCHNEIDER
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  RUSSIA IS ACCUSING PAKISTAN OF PROVIDING DIRECT MILITARY 
SUPPORT TO THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN.  RENE SCHNEIDER 
IN MOSCOW REPORTS RUSSIA'S GOVERNMENT IS SUGGESTING IT MAY MOVE 
MORE TROOPS INTO THE REGION. 
TEXT:  IN A STATEMENT RELEASED TUESDAY, RUSSIA ACCUSES PAKISTANI 
FORCES OF EQUIPPING THE TALEBAN AND OF HELPING THEM WITH BATTLE 
PLANS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.  THE STATEMENT ALSO SAYS PAKISTANI
SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT FIGHTING IN THE REGION.   
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN VALERI NESTERUSHKIN TOLD 
REPORTERS RUSSIA MAINTAINS THE RIGHT TO ENSURE THE CONFLICT IN 
AFGHANISTAN DOES  NOT  AFFECT REGIONS OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION 
THAT NOW FORM THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES.  
      ///  NESTERUSHKIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
MR. NESTERUSHKIN SAYS, "RUSSIA CONSIDERS THE ESCALATION OF 
TALEBAN MILITARY ACTIVITY A REAL THREAT TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES.  AND TOGETHER WITH THE 
OTHER MEMBERS, IT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE MEASURES FOR 
SAFEGUARDING ITS BORDERS." 
DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE TALIBAN HAS SEIZED MOST OF 
AFGHANISTAN, IMPOSING A STRICT VERSION OF ISLAMIC LAW.  IN RECENT
DAYS, THE FUNDAMENTALIST MOVEMENT HAS CAPTURED THE LARGEST CITY 
IN THE NORTH, MAZAR-I-SHARIF, 60 KILOMETERS FROM THE FORMER 
SOVIET REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN. 
RUSSIA CURRENTLY MAINTAINS 20-THOUSAND PEACEKEEPERS IN 
TAJIKISTAN, ONE OF THREE FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS BORDERING 
AFGHANISTAN.  THESE FORCES HELP PATROL THE BORDER, AND HAVE BEEN 
PLACED ON HIGH ALERT.
THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THE COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES ARE 
ALARMED BY THE TALEBAN'S ADVANCES AND FEAR A RADICAL ISLAMIC 
STATE IN AFGHANISTAN WILL INCREASE THE FLOW OF REFUGEES AND 
WEAPONS INTO CENTRAL ASIA.   
RECENT NEWS REPORTS HAVE ACCUSED RUSSIA OF AIDING ANTI-TALEBAN  
GUERRILLAS IN AFGHANISTAN WITH WEAPONS, TRAINING AND LOGISTICAL 
SUPPORT -- SOMETHING RUSSIA HAS DENIED.  (SIGNED)
NEB/RS/JWH
11-Aug-98 12:57 PM EDT (1657 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.