DATE=8/13/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41135
TITLE=PAKISTAN / TALEBAN
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN IS INSISTING IT DOES NOT HAVE MUCH INFLUENCE
OVER THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT THAT NOW HOLDS MOST OF AFGHANISTAN --
DESPITE PERSISTENT CHARGES BY IRAN AND, MORE RECENTLY, RUSSIA,
ABOUT PAKISTANI INVOLVEMENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS
BAKSHIAN HAS THE STORY FROM OUR ISLAMABAD BUREAU.
TEXT: PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER SARTAJ AZIZ -- IN AN INTERVIEW
WITH V--O-A -- SAYS PAKISTAN HAS LITTLE LEVERAGE ON THE TALEBAN.
// AZIZ ACTUALITY //
NOT MUCH -- AS MUCH AS ONE CAN HAVE ON AN INDEPENDENT
MOVEMENT LIKE THIS. IN FACT TALEBAN COMPLAIN TO PAKISTAN
THAT WE HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM ENOUGH SUPPORT IN WHATEVER
THEY WERE DOING.
// END ACTUALITY //
IRAN AND RUSSIA BOTH CHARGE PAKISTAN BACKS THE TALEBAN. RUSSIA
RECENTLY ACCUSED ISLAMABAD OF PROVIDING DIRECT MILITARY SUPPORT
TO THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT AND ALSO SAID PAKISTANI TROOPS MAY HAVE
BEEN CAUGHT FIGHTING ALONG SIDE THE TALEBAN. FOREIGN MINISTER
AZIZ DENIES ANY PAKISTANI SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN CAPTURED, BUT SAYS
SOME PAKISTANI VOLUNTEERS COULD BE INVOLVED IN THE AFGHAN
CONFLICT.
// AZIZ ACTUALITY //
I CAN'T SAY THAT THERE ARE NO PAKISTANI VOLUNTEERS WHO
GO (TO AFGHANISTAN), BECAUSE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS
VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD -- INCLUDING
PAKISTAN -- HAVE BEEN JOINING THE RANKS OF THE MUJAHEDIN
TO FIGHT THE RUSSIANS. SO THERE ARE SOME MADRASSAS AND
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WHICH WANT TO SUPPORT THEIR
JIHAD. BUT NOBODY HAS EVER FOUND A PAKISTANI SOLDIER OR
OFFICIAL FIGHTING ALONG WITH THE TALEBAN ANYWHERE.
OTHERWISE, BY NOW HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARADED.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. AZIZ ALSO DISMISSES CHARGES PAKISTANI INTELLIGENCE ASSISTS
THE TALEBAN. BUT HE SAYS PAKISTANI SECURITY AGENCIES ARE
ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH AFGHANISTAN TO MONITOR SMUGGLING AND DRUG
TRAFFICKING ALONG THE BORDER.
CONCERNING THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THE AFGHAN CONFLICT, MR. AZIZ
SAYS PAKISTAN STILL FAVORS A BROAD-BASED GOVERNMENT FOR THE
COUNTRY. HE SAYS THE TALEBAN WILL HAVE TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING
WITH OTHER AFGHAN FACTIONS FOR A FINAL SETTLEMENT.
MR. AZIZ ALSO EXPRESSES HOPE THE TALEBAN WILL SHOW FLEXIBILITY IN
ITS POLICIES, IF THE MOVEMENT EVENTUALLY CONTROLS THE WHOLE
COUNTRY. CRITICS HAVE ATTACKED THE TALEBAN FOR THEIR STRICT
VERSION OF ISLAMIC LAW THAT BANS MOST WOMEN FROM WORK AND GIRLS
FROM SCHOOLS.
// AZIZ ACTUALITY //
THEIR EXPLANATION, FOR WHATEVER IT IS WORTH WAS --THAT
AS WE ARE FIGHTING AND WE NEED THE GROUPS BOTH INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE OF AFGHANISTAN TO SUPPORT US IN THIS JIHAD
-- WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A VERY FIRM IDEOLOGICAL POSTURE
AND PURITY IN DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES. BUT I'M
CONVINCED THAT ONCE THE FIGHTING PHASE IS OVER AND THEY
REALLY BEGIN TO GOVERN -- MORE MODERATES WILL JOIN THE
GOVERNMENT. OF COURSE, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO ISLAM AND
ISLAM DOES NOT TEACH ANY VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OR
WOMEN'S RIGHTS. AND DOES NOT PUT WOMEN UNDER THE VEIL.
// END ACTUALITY //
MR. AZIZ PRAISES THE TALEBAN FOR BRINGING ORDER TO AFGHANISTAN
AFTER YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. HE SAYS THE TALEBAN HAVE MET LITTLE
RESISTANCE IN THEIR MILITARY CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE THE AFGHAN PEOPLE
ARE TIRED OF CONFLICT AND DO NOT SUPPORT THE ARMED FACTIONS THAT
MAKE UP THE OPPOSITION. (SIGNED)
NEB / DB / CB / WD
13-Aug-98 5:25 AM EDT (0925 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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