DATE=7/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251959
TITLE=AFGHAN PEACE TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N SPONSORED PEACE TALKS BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN'S WARRING
FACTIONS HAVE ENDED IN UZBEKISTAN WITHOUT A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH.
AS SARAH HORNER REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, BOTH SIDES ARE PREPARING
FOR A NEW ROUND OF FIGHTING.
TEXT: THE PAKISTAN-BASED AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) QUOTES A
TALEBAN SPOKESMAN AS SAYING TALEBAN INFORMATION MINISTER MULLAH
AMIR KHAN MUTTAQI PRESENTED SIX-POINTS AT THE PEACE TALKS IN THE
UZBEK CAPITAL, TASHKENT.
THE MINISTER ASKED THE OPPOSITION NORTHERN ALLIANCE TO NOT
DESTROY IMPORTANT STRUCTURES DURING FIGHTING, TO STOP ROCKET
ATTACKS ON CIVILIANS, AND TO CEASE USING ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES.
HE REQUESTED BETTER TREATMENT FOR TALEBAN PRISONERS-OF-WAR AND
FOR THE OPPOSITION TO SUPPORT THE TALEBAN'S ADMINISTRATION.
MULLAH MUTTAQI ALSO CONDEMNED THE ALLIANCE'S SUPPORT OF RECENT
AMERICAN FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON THE
TALEBAN.
A-I-P QUOTES AN OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN WHO SAYS THE ALLIANCE
SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
THE NEWS AGENCY SAYS BOTH SIDES SAY THEY HAVE TO REFER ALL THE
POINTS MADE AT TASHKENT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE LEADERSHIPS.
THE MEETING BETWEEN THE TALEBAN -- WHICH CONTROLS 90-PERCENT OF
AFGHANISTAN -- AND THE OPPOSITION NORTHERN ALLIANCE -- WHICH
CONTROLS THE REMAINING 10-PERCENT -- TOOK PLACE UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SO-CALLED "SIX-PLUS-TWO GROUP".
THE U-N SPONSORED GROUP COMPRISES AFGHANISTAN'S SIX NEIGHBORS,
RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES. IT IS WORKING TO FIND A PEACEFUL
SOLUTION TO AFGHANISTAN'S 10-YEAR CIVIL WAR.
THE SIX-PLUS-TWO MEETING WAS CHAIRED BY THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY TO
AFGHANISTAN, LAKHDAR BRAHIMI. MONDAY, THE GROUP URGED THE
TALEBAN AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE TO END THE CONFLICT IN
AFGHANISTAN.
SEVERAL MEETINGS IN THE PAST 18-MONTHS HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE A
LASTING PEACE AGREEMENT. DURING THIS TIME, TALEBAN FORCES HAVE
EXTENDED THEIR CONTROL OVER AFGHANISTAN AND NOW FACE ONE
REMAINING OBSTACLE -- OPPOSITION LEADER AHMAD SHAH MASSOOD.
COMMANDER MASSOOD IS HEADQUARTERED IN THE PANJSHIR VALLEY,
90-KILOMETERS NORTH OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL. FROM THIS
STRONGHOLD, HE HAS REMAINED A THORN IN THE TALEBAN'S SIDE AND
DEFEATED ITS ATTEMPTS TO TAKE CONTROL OF ALL AFGHANISTAN.
REPORTS FROM AFGHANISTAN SAY TALEBAN FORCES ARE BUILDING UP NORTH
OF KABUL AND PLAN TO SOON MAKE A MAJOR PUSH AGAINST COMMANDER
MASSOOD. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/RAE
20-Jul-99 9:48 AM EDT (1348 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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