DATE=1/3/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TALEBAN RELATIONS
NUMBER=5-45164
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMBAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Afghanistan's Taleban movement is viewed as a
pariah by much of the world. It has been accused of
human-rights abuses and supporting terrorism. As a
result of the Taleban refusal to hand over suspected
terrorist Osama bin Laden, the United States and the
United Nations have levied economic, political and
aviation sanctions against the hard-line movement.
But as V-O-A's Scott Anger reports, observers say the
manner in which the Taleban handled the hijacking of
an Indian airliner last week has improved their image
with the world community.
TEXT: Minutes after the hijacked Indian airliner
touched down in the Taleban stronghold of Kandahar,
the hard-line Islamic movement was thrust into the
world spotlight. There is widespread agreement
officials there handled the situation well.
Taleban authorities helped facilitate negotiations
between the hijackers, the United Nations and India.
Although Afghanistan is a poor, war-ravaged country,
the Taleban also provided food and medicine to the
155-passengers held hostage aboard the plane.
Before the hijacking began, India had been openly
hostile toward the Taleban and has refused to
recognize it as the government of Afghanistan. But
after he escorted the freed hostages home, Indian
Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh praised the Taleban at
a crowded news conference in New Delhi.
/// SINGH ACT ///
I would like to take this opportunity to express our
appreciation and gratitude to the Taleban and the
authorities in Afghanistan for the cooperation all
along during this trying period.
/// END ACT ///
Kamal Matin-uddin, author of the book, "The Taleban
Phenomenon," thinks the Taleban handled the hijacking
very well. He says they deserve the praise of not
only the Indians, but the entire world.
/// MATIN-UDDIN ACT ///
They have always been labeled as illiterate,
intolerant and unable to deal with international
behavior. In this particular case, they have done
exceedingly well. They have managed a very volatile
situation which could have lead to a lot of blood-
shed, but the manner in which they conducted
themselves and mediated between the Indians and the
hijackers, resulted in the freeing of all the
passengers.
/// END ACT ///
The Taleban has been under intense pressure from
western governments - especially the United States.
Osama bin Laden, a Saudi-born militant who is wanted
by the U-S for his role in the bombings of two
American embassies in Africa in 1998, is living in
Afghanistan. The Taleban has refused to hand him over
because - it says - there is not enough evidence to
prove he played a role in the attacks.
In November, the United Nations imposed U-S backed
financial and aviation sanctions against the Taleban
for its refusal to help bring Mr. bin Laden to trial.
The Taleban maintains the Saudi militant is a guest in
Afghanistan and therefore, cannot be handed over.
During the hijacking crisis, diplomats from France,
Australia, Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland remained in
Kandahar to look after their citizens who had been
aboard the plane.
Editor Talat Hussain, of Pakistan's leading English-
language daily newspaper, says the crisis has given
western countries a chance to deal directly with the
Taleban.
/// HUSSAIN ACT TWO ///
The bewilderment one shares when one looks at the
outcome of this crisis is caused by the fact that the
world had been looking at the Taleban through the
prism and through the perspective of whatever the
Americans had been telling them. But minus that
perspective, minus that prism, the world interacted
with the Taleban and discovered that these people are
not all that abnormal after all.
/// END ACT ///
The Taleban first emerged on the Afghan scene in
Kandahar in 1994. Most of its members received
religious schooling in neighboring Pakistan and
southern Afghanistan during the last years of the
Soviet occupation of the country. Many had been
refugees from the war.
In less than two-years after its creation the Taleban
swept north through Afghanistan, capturing 80-percent
of the country, including the capital Kabul in
September 1996. It continues to fight a strong
opposition force that controls about 10-percent of
northern Afghanistan.
The Taleban has enforced a strict version of Islamic
law on the country. In the first two-years of its
dominance, women had been prevented from attending
schools or working outside the home. Men have been
forced to grow beards and pray five times a day.
Photography of living things, including animals, has
also been banned.
These harsh policies, along with the accusations of
their support of terrorism, have prevented the Taleban
from gaining international recognition.
But Mr. Matin-uddin says the Taleban have eased some
of their restrictions, even allowing international
film crews to photograph Taleban soldiers and
officials during the hijacking standoff. He says the
movement is making progress.
/// MATIN-UDDIN ACT TWO ///
I think that there has been a gradual change in them
(Taleban) as far as their interpretation of Islamic
tenets. They have allowed schools to open for girls
in Kabul. Now they have allowed themselves to be
filmed and they have been talking to foreigners and
have allowed foreigners to come into their country.
There is definitely a change in their attitude towards
the rest of the world, and I think if they gradually
move in this direction, they may take part in he
mainstream (of the world).
/// END ACT ///
A U-N official who oversaw negotiations between the
parties during the hijacking, Erick de Mul, says the
role the Taleban played in the crisis will enhance the
hard-line Islamic movement's image. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
03-Jan-2000 09:08 AM EDT (03-Jan-2000 1408 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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