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DATE=8/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237314
TITLE=AFGHAN THREAT (L)  CQ
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES WORKING IN AFGHANISTAN TELL V-O-A 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED THEM TO WITHDRAW INTERNATIONAL 
STAFF BECAUSE OF THREATS AGAINST THE WORKERS.  CORRESPONDENT 
DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS U-S OFFICIALS IN ISLAMABAD HAVE NO 
IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON THE MATTER.
TEXT:  INTERNATIONAL AID SOURCES SAY THEY HAVE BEEN SENT A 
MESSAGE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYING IT HAS RECEIVED A THREAT
DIRECTED AT ALL INTERNATIONAL STAFF WORKING FOR NON-MUSLIM 
AGENCIES IN AFGHANISTAN.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS ALL 
INTERNATIONAL STAFF IN AFGHANISTAN BE WITHDRAWN. 
THE DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S MOVE TUESDAY TO 
PULL OUT AN ESTIMATED 200 OFFICIAL AMERICANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS 
FROM PAKISTAN.  THE U-S EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD SAID THE STEP WAS 
TAKEN BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS THREAT TO SECURITY -- BUT THE NATURE 
OF THE THREAT WAS  NOT  GIVEN.  
THERE HAS BEEN AN ATMOSPHERE OF CONCERN IN THE REGION FOLLOWING 
PAKISTAN'S ARREST OF A SUSPECT IN THE U-S EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN 
EAST AFRICA.  THE SUSPECT WAS LATER SENT TO KENYA.
AID WORKERS ARE EXPRESSING DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT THE LATEST 
WARNING.  SOME SAY THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED TOO LITTLE 
INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE AN ACCURATE JUDGMENT ABOUT HOW BAD
THE THREAT IS.  OTHER HUMANITARIAN WORKERS SAY THEY ARE TAKING 
THE WARNING SERIOUSLY AND CANCELLING ALL BUT ESSENTIAL WORK IN 
THE COUNTRY. 
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE RED CROSS SAYS IT IS KEEPING 
ITS INTERNATIONAL STAFF IN AFGHANISTAN FOR THE TIME BEING.  BUT 
IT SAYS INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES ARE IN EFFECT.  A NUMBER OF 
AID GROUPS ARE MEETING TO DECIDE THEIR FINAL COURSE OF ACTION.
HUMANITARIAN OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THERE ARE ONLY A FEW-HUNDRED 
INTERNATIONAL STAFF REMAINING IN AFGHANISTAN.  MANY SUCH WORKERS 
WERE EXPELLED FROM KABUL, THE CAPITAL, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AFTER 
REFUSING TO MOVE INTO RUN DOWN BUILDINGS THAT AID GROUPS CONSIDER
UNSAFE.  AID OFFICIALS ALSO SAY THIS IS THE VACATION PERIOD FOR 
INTERNATIONAL STAFF SO MANY ARE OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.   (SIGNED)
NEB/DAB/RAE
19-Aug-98 7:41 AM EDT (1141 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.