DATE=10/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239932
TITLE=IRAN / AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAN'S OFFICIAL NEWS MEDIA SAY IRANIAN TROOPS HAVE
CLASHED ALONG THE BORDER WITH AFGHANISTAN'S TALEBAN FORCES. BUT
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TALEBAN DENIES THE REPORT, SAYING THE ONLY
ATTACK HAS BEEN ARTILLERY SHELLING INTO AFGHANISTAN BY IRANIAN
FORCES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE
EAST BUREAU.
TEXT: THE COMMANDER OF IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS (MOHAMED ALI
JAFARI) TOLD THE OFFICIAL IRANIAN NEWS AGENCY THAT IRANIAN
FORCES INFLICTED HEAVY CASUALTIES ON THE TALEBAN AFTER THEY
OPENED FIRE WITH MORTARS AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNS AROUND DAWN ON
THURSDAY. THE COMMANDER SAID THREE BORDER POSTS WERE DESTROYED
BUT THAT CALM HAD RETURNED.
HOWEVER, A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN DENIED THEIR FORCES HAD ATTACKED
IRAN. RATHER, HE SAID, THE TALEBAN HAVE HELD BACK DESPITE
IRANIAN ARTILLERY ATTACKS DURING THE PAST THREE DAYS. NEITHER
REPORT COULD BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.
TENSIONS HAVE BEEN RISING BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SINCE TALEBAN
FIGHTERS KILLED EIGHT IRANIAN DIPLOMATS AND A JOURNALIST DURING
THE TAKEOVER OF MAZAAR-E-SHARIF IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
IRAN IS ALSO ANGRY OVER REPORTED MASSACRES OF CIVILIANS IN THE
PROVINCIAL CITY OF BAMIYAN, WHICH WAS THE HEADQUARTERS OF AN
IRANIAN-BACKED GROUP THAT OPPOSES THE TALEBAN.
THE TALEBAN ACCUSE IRAN OF SUPPORTING OPPOSITION MILITIAS THAT
ARE SEEKING TO DRIVE IT FROM AFGHANISTAN.
IRAN LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED IT WOULD UNDERTAKE WAR EXERCISES ALONG
THE AFGHAN BORDER AND SENT 200-THOUSAND TROOPS TO THE REGION.
THE TALEBAN SAYS IT WANTS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE,
BUT HAS REINFORCED ITS FORCES ALONG THE BORDER WITH 10-THOUSAND
ADDITIONAL FIGHTERS.
THE REPORTED CLASHES COME AS THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY TO
AFGHANISTAN, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, ENDED A FOUR-DAY VISIT TO TEHRAN
AND HEADED FOR ISLAMABAD IN AN ATTEMPT TO MEDIATE THE CRISIS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
08-Oct-98 12:34 PM EDT (1634 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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