DATE=8/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237275
TITLE=IRAN-AFGHANISTAN (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TWO SENIOR IRANIAN FIGURES HAVE ISSUED A STRONG WARNING
TO THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT IN AFGHANISTAN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS FROM OUR ISLAMABAD BUREAU.
TEXT: IN A SPEECH CARRIED BY STATE MEDIA, IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI DEMANDED THAT TALEBAN FORCES RETURN THE
IRANIAN NATIONALS THEY ARE HOLDING.
MR. KHAMENEI SAYS, IN HIS WORDS, "A GROUP OF IGNORANT PEOPLE HAS
COMMITTED THE UGLY ACT OF ARRESTING OUR PEOPLE". HE SAYS, "THEY
BETTER MAKE UP FOR THIS AND RETURN OUR DIPLOMATS". MR. KHAMENEI
SAYS, IN HIS WORDS, "IRAN DOES NOT TOLERATE SUCH BANDITRY".
IRAN SAYS TALEBAN FORCES ARRESTED 10 IRANIAN DIPLOMATS AND AN
IRANIAN JOURNALIST WHEN THEY CAPTURED THE NORTHERN CAPITAL OF
MAZAR-I-SHARIF ON AUGUST EIGHTH. THE TALEBAN SAYS IT SEIZED 35
IRANIAN TRUCK DRIVERS, BUT DENIES HOLDING THE 11 OTHERS.
MEANWHILE, IRAN'S FORMER PRESIDENT ALI AKBAR HASHEMI RAFSANJANI
WARNS THAT IRAN MIGHT RESORT TO FORCE TO FREE IT CITIZENS. HE
TOLD A PUBLIC MEETING THAT IRAN'S PATIENCE IS LIMITED.
TEHRAN IS WIDELY REPORTED TO BE BACKING OPPOSITION FORCES IN
AFGHANISTAN, AND STILL RECOGNIZES THE OPPOSITION GOVERNMENT
HEADED BY BURHANUDDIN RABBANI. TALEBAN FORCES DEALT A CRUSHING
BLOW TO THE OPPOSITION THIS MONTH BY CAPTURING KEY OPPOSITION
CITIES IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, IRAN'S PARLIAMENT MET TO DISCUSS
DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN'S NATIONAL SECURITY.
IRANIAN NEWS REPORTS SAY LEGISLATORS TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO
ENSURE STABILITY ALONG IRAN'S EASTERN BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN.
IRANIAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS HAVE BOOSTED SECURITY ALONG THE
BORDER AND PLAN TO STAGE MANEUVERS IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DB/LTD/MMK
18-Aug-98 11:52 AM EDT (1552 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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