DATE=12/17/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=YEARENDER: AFGHANISTAN
NUMBER=5-44974
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: 1999 was another year of dashed hopes that
peace will return anytime soon to Afghanistan. The
country's problems have been compounded by the
Taleban's refusal to extradite accused terrorist Osama
bin Laden, who is living in the country. As
Correspondent Scott Anger reports, relations between
the ruling Taleban and the world community have
further deteriorated, meaning more suffering for the
people of Afghanistan.
TEXT: Driven from their homes by heavy fighting,
refugees from the Shomali Plain north of the capital,
Kabul, looked as if they had had enough. Some had
walked nearly 50-kilometers to the capital from their
villages to escape the Taleban's massive summer
offensive aimed at pushing the opposition forces out
of the region. Many were angry. Most were resolved
to deal with the situation and to adapt as best they
could.
That is what the Afghan people have been doing for
more than 20-years -- and 1999 was no different.
A tailor in Afghanistan's capital, Ghulam Hazrat, says
he has grown tired of the war and the constant day-to-
day struggle to keep his family fed. But he says
after so many years of war, such adapting is part of
life.
/// HAZRAT ACT IN DARI WITH TRANSLATION ///
In the past two decades, we have had many
problems, but we are still surviving. Everyone
knows Afghans can survive.
/// END ACT ///
U-N sponsored peace talks in March raised hopes that
some agreement could be reached to bring an end to the
fighting which has plagued the country. The Taleban
and opposition alliance met in the Turkmen capital,
Ashgabat to hammer out a peace plan. U-N mediator
Andrew Tesoriere, thanked both sides and Afghanistan's
neighbors for their efforts to bring peace to the
country.
/// TESORIERE ACT ///
What the United Nations is delighted to note,
and continues to respect, is the influence and
behind-the-scenes contributions made by a range
of countries towards this process of building
mutual confidence to reach a political
settlement.
/// END ACT ///
In the end, despite a verbal power-sharing agreement
and praise from the United Nations, the Ashgabat talks
failed. The power-sharing agreement to form a broad-
based government in Kabul never materialized.
Furthermore, U-N praise for Afghanistan's neighbors
quickly faded into condemnation. The world body has
criticized Afghanistan's neighbors, such as Pakistan
and Iran, for their support of various groups fighting
in the conflict.
As the winter snows melted in the Hindu Kush
Mountains, battles continued. Fighting intensified in
July after the Taleban launched a major offensive in a
bid to bring all Afghanistan under its control. After
two weeks of intense ground and air attacks, the
Taleban managed to drive opposition fighters back into
their stronghold in the Panjsher Valley.
Days later, a counter-attack led by opposition
Commander Ahmad Shah Masood erased the Taleban's gains
and drove them back to the original frontlines north
of the capital.
Since capturing Kabul in September 1996, the Taleban
has gained control of about 90-percent of the country.
The rest - which lies mainly in the north - continues
to be held by forces loyal to Commander Masood.
The Taleban has failed to receive international
recognition. Instead, its relations with the
international community further deteriorated after the
movement failed to hand over accused terrorist Osama
bin Laden for trial. The Saudi militant is wanted by
the United States in connection with 1998 bombings
that killed more than 200-people at two U-S embassies
in Africa.
As a result, Washington imposed economic sanctions
against the Taleban in August. The United States
froze American bank accounts of Taleban-run companies
such as the national airline, Ariana.
The international pressure on the hard-line Islamic
movement continued. In November, the U-N Security
Council - at the urging of the United States - set a
deadline for the Taleban to hand over Mr. bin Laden.
Once again, the Taleban defied world pressure, saying
Osama bin Laden is a guest of the Taleban and that the
world has failed to provide evidence of his guilt.
Senior regional coordinator for U-N humanitarian
activities in Afghanistan Jolyon Leslie says
pressuring Afghanistan is not achieving what the
international community says it wants - a stable and
peaceful Afghanistan.
/// LESLIE ACT ///
The international community needs to make up its
mind whether it wants a country of dependents,
which will create a sort of humanitarian dust
bin - with no disrespect intended for the Afghan
people, they are very resilient - or is it going
to continue to be battled in by outside
interests. All we can do is reassure the Afghan
people, primarily, but secondly the authorities,
that we will try to keep the aid flowing. As
long as there is not a serious climate of
instability, which ironically, of course, may
well be spawned by things like sanctions.
/// END ACT ///
Meanwhile, seasonal snows have closed mountain passes
and have given the warring factions a chance to re-
stock supplies and to re-group forces. If no progress
has been made toward peace by the time the snows melt
in the spring, Afghanistan will be faced with another
year of war. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
17-Dec-1999 15:21 PM EDT (17-Dec-1999 2021 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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