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DATE=10/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239596
TITLE=AFGHAN IRAN  (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY IRANIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT VIOLATED 
AFGHAN AIRSPACE REPEATEDLY FRIDAY MORNING, BUT TALEBAN FORCES 
TOOK  NO  ACTION AGAINST THE INTRUSION. ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM 
ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS AGENCY (A-I-P) QUOTES TALEBAN 
OFFICIALS IN KANDAHAR AS SAYING IRANIAN MILITARY HELICOPTERS AND 
FIGHTER JETS ENTERED AFGHAN AIRSPACE THREE TIMES FRIDAY MORNING.
TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY AN INITIAL INTRUSION BY 10 IRANIAN 
HELICOPTERS OVER NIMROZ AND HERAT PROVINCES WAS FOLLOWED BY TWO 
MORE AIRSPACE VIOLATIONS BY IRANIAN FIGHTER JETS. 
THE VIOLATIONS OF AIR SPACE ARE THE FIRST IN THE STANDOFF BETWEEN
THE TALEBAN AND IRAN SINCE EIGHT IRANIAN DIPLOMATS AND A 
JOURNALIST WERE KILLED BY TALEBAN FIGHTERS IN NORTHERN 
AFGHANISTAN IN AUGUST.
TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY THEIR FORCES DID  NOT  TAKE ANY ACTION 
AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT. THE OFFICIALS SAY THEIR SIDE IS SHOWING 
RESTRAINT IN THE FACE OF HOSTILE ACTIONS BY IRAN, BUT WOULD FIGHT
BACK IF ATTACKED.
TEHRAN HAS AMASSED A QUARTER OF A MILLION TROOPS ALONG ITS 
EASTERN BORDER FOR MILITARY EXERCISES.  THE EXERCISES WERE 
SUPPOSED TO BEGIN THIS WEEK BUT HAVE  NOT  STARTED SO FAR.
ANALYSTS FEAR THE IRANIAN BUILD UP COULD BE THE FIRST STEP IN A 
MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE TALEBAN.  THOUSANDS OF TALEBAN 
FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO REINFORCE POSITIONS ON THE IRANIAN 
BORDER IN ANTICIPATION OF AN ATTACK.
IRAN HAS DEMANDED THE EXTRADITION OF THE KILLERS OF THE 
DIPLOMATS.  IRAN ALSO ACCUSES THE SUNNI MUSLIM TALEBAN FORCES OF 
MASSACRING THOUSANDS OF SHIITE MINORITY AFGHANS, WITH WHOM IRAN 
SHARES RELIGIOUS TIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TALEBAN LEADERSHIP ACCUSES IRAN OF ARMING 
AFGHAN OPPOSITION GROUPS THAT ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THE TALEBAN 
FROM TAKING CONTROL OF ALL OF AFGHANISTAN.
A UNITED NATIONS MISSION LED BY SPECIAL ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI IS 
DUE TO ARRIVE SOON IN THE REGION TO TRY TO MEDIATE AN END TO THE 
CRISIS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/KL
02-Oct-98 11:39 AM EDT (1539 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.