DATE=10/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240369
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING / U-N (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TALEBAN SAY THEY HAVE RECAPTURED THE STRATEGIC
NORTHERN AFGHAN CITY OF TALOQAN, A DAY AFTER LOSING IT TO
OPPOSITION FORCES. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD --
CONTROL OF SUPPLY ROUTES THROUGH TALOQAN IS CRUCIAL TO THE
ANTI-TALEBAN OPPOSITION THAT IS ISOLATED IN A FEW POCKETS OF THE
COUNTRY.
TEXT: THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS AGENCY (A-I-P) QUOTES A TALEBAN
SPOKESMAN IN KANDAHAR SAYING TALEBAN FIGHTERS LAUNCHED A FIERCE
COUNTER-ATTACK (SUNDAY) ON TALOQAN.
THE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE CAPITAL OF MOUNTAINOUS TAKHAR PROVINCE WAS
RECAPTURED BY TALEBAN FORCES AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF HEAVY
FIGHTING. THE SPOKESMAN SAYS TALEBAN FORCES HAVE COMPLETE
CONTROL OF THE CITY AND ITS AIRPORT.
THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE REPORT. OPPOSITION
SOURCES EARLIER SAID THEIR FORCES REPULSED A TALEBAN
COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AGAINST TALOQAN.
ONLY A DAY BEFORE, THE TALEBAN HAD CONCEDED LOSING CONTROL OF
TALOQAN TO THE FORCES OF OPPOSITION COMMANDER AHMED SHAH MASOOD.
TALEBAN FORCES RETREATED ABOUT 15 KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CITY,
AND SENT 600 FRESH FIGHTERS TO THE AREA FROM THE SOUTH.
TALOQAN SITS ON A HIGHLY STRATEGIC SUPPLY ROUTE FOR ANTI-TALEBAN
FORCES, AND CONTROL OF THE CITY AND ITS AIRPORT IS SEEN AS VITAL
FOR COMMANDER MASOOD'S FORCES FIGHTING THE TALEBAN FURTHER SOUTH
IN THE PANJSHER VALLEY AND NEAR KABUL.
THE TALEBAN HOLD ABOUT 90-PERCENT OF AFGHANISTAN, WHILE
OPPOSITION FORCES ARE STRUGGLING TO HOLD BACK A RAPID TALEBAN
CAMPAIGN TO CONSOLIDATE THEIR CONTROL OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
COMMANDER MASOOD'S CAPTURE OF TALOQAN WAS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT
MILITARY GAIN FOR THE OPPOSITION IN MANY MONTHS.
MEANWHILE, A SECOND TALEBAN DELEGATION ARRIVED (SUNDAY) IN
PAKISTAN FOR TALKS WITH U-N SPECIAL ENVOY LAKHDAR BRAHIMI.
DELEGATION LEADER ABDUL REHMAN ZAHID, THE TALEBAN DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER, TOLD THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) HE WILL BE
DISCUSSING THE RETURN OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER RELIEF
AGENCIES TO AFGHANISTAN.
THE UNITED NATIONS PULLED OUT AN ALREADY RESTRICTED PRESENCE FROM
AFGHANISTAN AFTER THE KILLING OF AN ITALIAN OFFICER SERVING IN
KABUL IN AUGUST.
MOST OTHER INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS HAD
PULLED THEIR STAFF OUT OF THE COUNTRY, AFTER MOUNTING
DISAGREEMENTS WITH TALEBAN AUTHORITIES OVER RELOCATION OF THEIR
HOMES AND OFFICES, AND RESTRICTION OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.
MR. ZAHID TOLD A-I-P THE TALEBAN ARE WILLING TO PROVIDE COMPLETE
GUARANTEES OF SECURITY FOR AID WORKERS TO RETURN TO AFGHANISTAN,
AND IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A RESUMPTION OF AID PROGRAMS AS A RESULT
OF THESE TALKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/RAE
18-Oct-98 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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