DATE=7/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN-FIGHTING (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263967
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Fresh fighting has erupted in Afghanistan
between the ruling Taleban and opposition forces. The
hostilities follow reports of troop build-ups by the
warring sides and threats of further sanctions by the
United Nations, which is trying to end a two-decade
long war that has devastated Afghanistan. From
neighboring Pakistan, Ayaz Gul reports.
TEXT: Witnesses say Taleban and opposition forces
have been exchanging heavy artillery and mortar fire
near Bagram, about 50 kilometers north of the capital,
Kabul.
Both the Taleban and forces led by opposition
commander Ahmad Shah Masood are accusing each other of
starting the fighting, which follows months of
relative calm in the civil war in Afghanistan.
Taleban officials say commander Masood's fighters
attacked their positions in the northern provinces of
Baghlan and Samangan late on Friday. The Taleban says
it repulsed the attacks.
Abdul Hai Mutmain is a spokesman for the Taleban
movement.
/// Mutmain Act in Pashto fade under ///
Mr. Mutmain says they had no plans to start the
fighting again, but that they were forced to after
being attacked by opposition forces. He says the
Taleban will continue to counter any attacks in the
future.
But an opposition spokesman, Wali Masood, blames the
Taleban for launching, what he calls, a long-expected
offensive against the opposition.
In recent days, both the Taleban and opposition forces
have been moving troops and equipment to new positions
around the country.
Mr. Masood accuses neighboring Pakistan of supporting
the Taleban's efforts to bring all of Afghanistan
under its military control.
/// Masood Act ///
This fighting, which has already started this
morning with such a heavy weaponry and heavy
fire, nobody really can say that well that's
happened because the Taleban initiated such
thing. No, Taleban (forces) themselves cannot
initiate such a launch of offensive.
/// End Act ///
The Taleban denies that it is receiving military
support from Pakistan, and in turn blames Russia and
Central Asian republics of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
for helping its opposition in the Afghan conflict.
The hard-line Taleban controls about 90 percent of
Afghanistan and the opposition holds the rest.
The latest hostilities follow a United Nations warning
to the warring factions to avoid fighting or face
further sanctions. Last month, the U-N secretary
general called the situation in Afghanistan deplorable
and warned of a major round of fighting.
International aid donors have also warned that an
outbreak of summer fighting could threaten assistance
to the war-devastated country. International efforts
led by the United Nations have so far failed to bring
peace to Afghanistan. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/JP
01-Jul-2000 09:13 AM EDT (01-Jul-2000 1313 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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