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DATE=10/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240047
TITLE=AFGHAN IRAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TALEBAN LEADER MULLAH OMAR HAS ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF 
10 MORE IRANIAN PRISONERS.  AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD 
-- DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO EASE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND 
TEHRAN ARE PROGRESSING, EVEN AS FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND 
THEIR DOMESTIC OPPONENTS INTENSIFIES.
TEXT:  THE "AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS" (A-I-P) AGENCY SAYS MULLAH OMAR
ANNOUNCED THE RELEASE OF MORE IRANIAN PRISONERS IN HONOR OF A 
VISITING PALESTINIAN DELEGATION.
A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN SAYS THE MEN WILL BE RELEASED AND TAKEN TO 
IRAN ONCE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR TRANSFER HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT 
WITH TEHRAN.  THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT FROM IRAN ABOUT THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE RELEASE OF THE 10 MEN WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF IRANIANS
RELEASED TO 25.  IRAN SAYS 70 OF ITS NATIONALS ARE BEING HELD BY 
THE TALEBAN.  THE TALEBAN SAYS IT IS ONLY HOLDING IRANIANS 
CAPTURED FROM OPPOSITION-HELD TERRITORY WHILE HELPING THE WAR 
EFFORT OF THE ANTI-TALEBAN ALLIANCE.
IRAN HAS WARNED OF MILITARY RETALIATION IF ALL IRANIAN CAPTIVES 
ARE NOT RELEASED.  IT HAS MASSED A QUARTER OF A MILLION TROOPS ON
THE BORDER FOR WAR GAMES. 
TEHRAN IS ALSO DEMANDING AN APOLOGY FOR THE KILLINGS OF EIGHT 
IRANIAN DIPLOMATS BY TALEBAN FIGHTERS DURING THEIR TAKEOVER OF 
THE ANTI-TALEBAN STRONGHOLD OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF.
U-N SPECIAL ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI MET (SUNDAY) WITH A TALEBAN 
DELEGATION IN ISLAMABAD TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING TO 
AFGHANISTAN FOR TALKS WITH TALEBAN LEADERS.  MR. BRAHIMI IS 
VISITING THE REGION IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT WAR BETWEEN THE 
TALEBAN AND IRAN, BUT HAS SO FAR NOT ACCEPTED A TALEBAN 
INVITATION TO COME TO AFGHANISTAN FOR DIRECT TALKS.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE TALEBAN GOVERNMENT IN 
AFGHANISTAN, AND U-N OFFICIALS ARE BARRED FROM TRAVEL TO THE 
COUNTRY SINCE THE KILLING OF A U-N OFFICER THERE IN AUGUST.
TALEBAN DELEGATION LEADER WAKIL AHMED SAYS HE HAS DELIVERED A 
LETTER FROM TALEBAN SUPREME LEADER MULLAH OMAR TO MR. BRAHIMI.  
THE TALEBAN SAY THEY WILL GUARANTY MR. BRAHIMI'S SAFETY FOR A 
VISIT TO TALEBAN HEADQUARTERS IN KANDAHAR.  MR. AHMED SAYS HIS 
DELEGATION HAS ALSO DISCUSSED THE ISSUES WHICH FORCED THE UNITED 
NATIONS TO WITHDRAW ITS AID WORKERS FROM AFGHANISTAN.
MEANWHILE, HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN 
BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND FORCES LOYAL TO OPPOSITION COMMANDER 
AHMED SHAH MASOOD.
THE TALEBAN, WHO CONTROL 90-PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY, ARE BELIEVED 
TO HAVE LAUNCHED A NEW OFFENSIVE TO TRY TO ROOT OUT THE LAST OF 
THEIR OPPONENTS BEFORE THE ONSET OF AFGHANISTAN'S HARSH WINTER.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/RAE
11-Oct-98 10:54 AM EDT (1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.