DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHANISTAN-RUSSIA (L-O)
NUMBER=2-262697
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Afghanistan's Taleban movement is rejecting
Russian allegations that it is providing military help
to Chechen guerillas. The Taleban statement follows a
warning from Russia that it might launch air strikes
against Afghanistan for allegedly helping anti-Moscow
fighters in Russia's Chechnya republic. From
Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.
TEXT: Taleban spokesman, Abdul Hai Muttmain says
Afghanistan does not have resources to export weapons
or give military training to Chechen guerrillas. The
spokesman denies the Russian charge that the Taleban
signed an agreement to send military aid to anti-
Moscow fighters in Chechnya.
A senior Russian official said on Monday that Russia
has proof of such an agreement and warned that Moscow
could launch air strikes against Afghanistan for
supporting Chechen militants.
The Taleban, which recognizes Chechnya's independence
from Russia, has warned it will retaliate if Moscow
carried out an attack on Afghanistan.
The hard-line Islamic group says the responsibility
for such an action by Moscow will be on neighboring
Central Asian states, because it says without their
help Russia cannot attack Afghanistan.
Last week, Russia President Vladimir Putin gave a
security guarantee to ex-Soviet state Uzbekistan,
which borders Afghanistan. The Uzbek government says
it is threatened by the spreading of Afghan-Islamic
militancy.
Most of Afghanistan is controlled by the Taleban
movement, which has imposed a strict version of
Islamic laws in the war-ravaged country. Women have
been prevented from working outside the home, and
girls are barred from attending schools. Men have
been forced to grow beards and pray five-times a day.
The Taleban policies have isolated Afghanistan from
the rest of the world.
The United States says areas under the Taleban control
have become centers for exporting terrorism worldwide.
Both the United States and the United Nations have
imposed various sanctions on the Taleban for failing
to hand over suspected terrorist, Osama bin Laden.
Mr. bin Laden is wanted by Washington for his role in
the 1998 bombings of two U-S embassies in Africa.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RAE
23-May-2000 11:08 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1508 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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