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DATE=8/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237080
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: TALEBAN FIGHTERS, WHO SWEPT THROUGH NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN 
THIS WEEK, ARE URGING THE OPPOSITION TO SURRENDER TO AVOID 
FURTHER BLOODSHED. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS 
FROM OUR ISLAMABAD BUREAU. 
TEXT: TALEBAN COMMANDER MULLAH ABDUL SATAR TOLD REPORTERS ON THE 
FRONTLINE NORTH OF KABUL THAT HE HAS SENT MESSAGES TO LOCAL 
OPPOSITION COMMANDERS TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND JOIN THE 
TALEBAN. 
COMMANDER SATAR SAYS TALEBAN FORCES ARE READY TO FIGHT, BUT THEY 
WANT TO PREVENT NEEDLESS BLOODSHED.  HE SAYS THERE IS  NO  LONGER
A REASON FOR THE OPPOSITION TO RESIST NOW THAT TALEBAN FORCES 
CONTROL MOST OF THE COUNTRY. 
HE SAYS HE IS TRYING TO PERSUADE OPPOSITION COMMANDERS TO OPEN 
THE KEY SALANG HIGHWAY LEADING NORTH FROM KABUL.  IN THE PAST 
TALEBAN SOLDIERS SUFFERED HEAVY CASUALTIES TRYING TO FIGHT THEIR 
WAY NORTH OF THE CAPITAL.
THE OPPOSITION IS NOW CONFINED TO A SMALL AREA IN NORTHEAST 
AFGHANISTAN AND THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF BAMIAN.  TALEBAN 
WARPLANES BOMBED THE BAMIAN REGION THURSDAY AND CIVILIANS AND 
FOREIGN AID WORKERS FLED THE CAPITAL OF BAMIAN FEARING AN 
OFFENSIVE.     
THE TALEBAN OVER THE PAST WEEK HAVE SWEPT THROUGH NORTHERN 
AFGHANISTAN, FIRST CAPTURING THE NORTHERN CAPITAL AND THEN TAKING
A SERIES OF TOWNS THAT SERVED AS VITAL SUPPLY ROUTES FOR THE 
OPPOSITION.  ANALYSTS SAY THE OFFENSIVE DEALT A CRUSHING MILITARY
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW TO THE OPPOSITION. 
MEANWHILE, THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE TALEBAN, MULLAH MOHAMMAD 
OMAR, GAVE REASSURANCES TO IRAN AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES 
ABOUT TALEBAN PLANS. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PAKISTANI DAILY 
"THE NEWS" HE SAID THE TALEBAN HAS  NO  INTENTION OF INTERFERING 
IN THEIR AFFAIRS. IRAN AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN STATES HAVE VOICED 
FEARS THAT THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT MIGHT SPILL OVER THE BORDERS OF 
AFGHANISTAN INTO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.  (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/TMD/KL
14-Aug-98 9:15 AM EDT (1315 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.