DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248195
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REPORTS SAY FRESH FIGHTING HAS ERUPTED IN AFGHANISTAN
(FRIDAY) BETWEEN OPPOSITION FORCES AND THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT NORTH
OF KABUL. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER REPORTS.
TEXT: THE INDEPENDENT AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) SAYS THE
TALEBAN MOVEMENT HAS LAUNCHED A MAJOR ATTACK AGAINST OPPOSITION
FORCES LED BY AHMAD SHAH MASOOD NEAR KHANJAN, IN THE BAGHLAN
PROVINCE NORTH OF THE CAPITAL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TALEBAN MOVEMENT TOLD A-I-P, THEIR FORCES
HAVE MANAGED TO BREAK THROUGH THE FRONT LINES AND GAIN GROUND IN
THE FIGHTING -- BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION.
TALEBAN FIGHTER PLANES HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN ATTACKING OPPOSITION
POSITIONS IN THE AREA, AS HEAVY ARTILLERY EXCHANGES OCCUR BETWEEN
BOTH SIDES.
OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN EXPECTING RENEWED FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TWO
SIDES, AS HEAVY SNOWS MELT ALLOWING TROOPS TO MOVE FREELY
THROUGHOUT NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN.
THE HARDLINE ISLAMIC TALEBAN HAVE GAINED CONTROL OF ABOUT
NINETY-PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY SINCE CAPTURING THE CAPITAL, KABUL,
IN SEPTEMBER 1996. OPPOSITION FORCES HAVE MANAGED TO HOLD ON TO
THE REMAINING TEN-PERCENT.
HOSTILITIES IN AFGHANISTAN HAVE STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE UNITED
NATIONS FAILED TO BRING BOTH SIDES BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE
LAST MONTH.
THE TALEBAN AND OPPOSITION FORCES MET FACE-TO-FACE IN EARLY MARCH
IN THE TURKMEN CAPITAL, ASHGABAD. DURING THEIR MEETINGS, BOTH
SIDES PROMISED TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE AIMED AT BRINGING PEACE TO
THE WAR-RAVAGED NATION. BUT DESPITE THE PLEDGE TO MEET AGAIN,
TALKS HAVE NOT RESUMED.
ON WEDNESDAY, U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WARNED THAT THE
TALEBAN AND OPPOSITION HAVE USED THE COLD WINTER MONTHS TO
REPLENISH THEIR SUPPLIES AND ARE PREPARING FOR HEAVY FIGHTING
THIS SUMMER. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/GE
16-Apr-99 9:47 AM EDT (1347 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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