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DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236968
TITLE=AFGHAN-PAK MADRASSAS (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
/// RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT CR NUMBER ///
INTRO:  HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS FROM ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN 
PAKISTAN LEFT FOR AFGHANISTAN WEDNESDAY TO SUPPORT THE TALEBAN 
FOLLOWING THEIR CAPTURE OF KEY AREAS IN THE NORTH.  VOA 
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN HAS MORE FROM OUR ISLAMABAD 
BUREAU. 
TEXT:  WITNESSES SAY BUSES FILLED WITH RELIGIOUS STUDENTS, MOST 
OF THEM AFGHANS,  LEFT THE NORTHWESTERN PAKISTAN CITY OF PESHAWAR
FOR AFGHANISTAN. MANY THE YOUNG MEN SAID THEY WERE GOING IN TO 
PROVIDE CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, BUT A FEW SAID THEY 
WERE FIGHTERS. 
THE YOUNG MEN ARE FROM THE MANY MADRASSAS OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN
PAKISTAN.  LAST WEEK, A NUMBER OF MADRASSAS IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN 
DECLARED A HOLIDAY PERIOD TO ALLOW THEIR STUDENTS TO AID THE 
TALEBAN.  THE MOVE FOLLOWED A REQUEST BY SUPREME TALEBAN LEADER, 
MULLAH OMAR, FOR SUCH SUPPORT. 
OBSERVERS SAY THE TALEBAN FORCES NEED MORE MANPOWER AS THEY 
EXPAND THE TERRITORY UNDER THEIR CONTROL.  TALEBAN LEADERS HAVE 
SAID THEY NEED FRESH RECRUITS TO ENFORCE LAW AND ORDER AND TO DO 
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW VOLUNTEERS 
WILL  NOT  BE SENT TO THE FRONT LINES.
THERE ARE  NO  HARD FIGURES ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO 
HAVE CROSSED OVER INTO AFGHANISTAN IN RECENT WEEKS. ACCORDING TO 
SOME ESTIMATES, IT IS IN THE THOUSANDS.  
TALEBAN COMES FROM AN ARABIC WORD MEANING STUDENT.  THE TALEBAN 
MOVEMENT EMERGED FOUR YEARS AGO FROM SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN BUT 
DREW MUCH OF ITS STRENGTH FROM AFGHAN REFUGEES IN PAKISTANI 
MADRASSAS.  HEADS OF MANY OF THE SCHOOLS TAKE PRIDE THAT A NUMBER
OF TALEBAN COMMANDERS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT FIGURES ARE GRADUATES
FROM THEIR INSTITUTIONS.
THE AFGHAN OPPOSITION HAS LONG ACCUSED PAKISTAN OF SUPPORTING THE
TALEBAN, THOUGH ISLAMABAD HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED THIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/KL
12-Aug-98 12:01 PM EDT (1601 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.