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DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN / U-N (L ONLY) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-262036
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  A spokesman for Afghanistan's dominant 
Taleban faction said today/Friday that the group 
will not initiate fighting this summer with 
opposition forces in the country.  As Ayaz Gul 
reports from Islamabad, the statement is the 
first response by the Taleban to a U-N warning of 
heavy fighting in the coming weeks in 
Afghanistan.
TEXT:  The spokesman, Abdul Hakim Mujahid, says 
Taleban forces will not be the ones to begin fighting.   
Speaking to reporters at the Afghan Embassy in 
neighboring Islamabad, Mr. Mujahid said that the 
responsibility for preventing fighting lies with anti 
Taleban forces and - as he puts- the foreign powers 
arming them.
            /// MUJAHID ACT ///
      We do not want war in this country.  Our 
      policy is that we will not take the 
      initiative of fighting against our 
      opposition. 
            /// END ACT ///
The United Nations Security Council on Thursday 
expressed fears that the Taleban and the 
opposition alliance are preparing for a new 
offensive in Afghanistan.  The Taleban Islamic 
movement controls 90 percent of the war-ravaged 
country.  It has been unable to crush the 
opposition forces in the north of the country.
The Taleban accuses Iran, Russia and several 
Central Asian states of providing military 
support to their opponents, while the opposition 
blames neighboring Pakistan for financing and 
arming the Taleban.
The United Nations has repeatedly urged all of 
Afghanistan's neighbors to stop supplying 
Afghan's warring factions.
Meanwhile, the opposition and the Taleban are set 
to open another round of peace talks next week in 
Saudi Arabia. 
A senior Taleban minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, who 
was at the (Friday) news conference in Islamabad, 
will lead the Taleban delegation to the talks. 
Mr. Muttaqi says his talks with opposition 
representatives will focus on persuading them to 
give up fighting. 
        /// MUTTAQI ACT IN PASHTO, FADE UNDER ///
Mr. Muttaqi says the Taleban will try to find out 
whether the opposition is ready to end its 
resistance.  After that, he says, it will be 
possible to discuss all kinds of issues. (Signed)
NEB/AG/KL
05-May-2000 11:07 AM EDT (05-May-2000 1507 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.