Military

DATE=10/24/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-282177

TITLE= AFGHAN ATTACKS / S-L COMBO

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

TEXT: U-S air strikes resumed Wednesday against targets in and around the Afghan

capital, Kabul, and against Taleban front-line positions north of the city. V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from Islamabad, the strikes are taking place as relief workers are beginning to screen Afghan refugees trying to enter Pakistan.

TEXT: Witnesses say successive waves of air strikes are being carried

out against Taleban positions in the Kabul area -- with many strikes

just to the north of the city, near Taleban frontlines.

U-N and U-S officials report Taleban troops moving into residential

areas of Kabul - raising the possibility of higher civilian casualties. The

Afghan Islamic Press reports Wednesday U-S strikes killed 52

civilians in a village near the southern city, Kandahar. There is no independent

confirmation of the report.

Taleban authorities say more than one thousand civilians have been

killed, so far, since air strikes against terrorist and military-related targets

began, 18 days ago. U-S officials dispute the figure, saying collateral damage

has been limited.

Foreign aid workers say they have begun screening thousands of Afghan

refugees who have been approved to enter a temporary refugee camp near

the Pakistani town, Chaman. An estimated 15-thousand Afghan refugees are

believed to be waiting at the border.

// REST OPTIONAL //

In a separate development, Pakistani and Taleban authorities have

reached agreement to house many of the refugees in camps inside Afghanistan run

by the Taleban. There have clashes at the border, in recent days, between

refugees and Pakistani border guards. Pakistani officials say they

will admit women and children and those who are injured but cannot open the

border to all refugees. There are an estimated two million Afghans

living in Pakistan.

U-N officials have criticized the agreement, saying Taleban authorities

cannot help the large number of refugees adequately.

Meanwhile, as the air strikes continue inside Afghanistan, Afghan exile

leaders began two days of meetings in Peshawar, Pakistan, to

discuss a post-Taleban government. Many exiles say they are willing

to unite under the banner of the exiled king Zahir Shah. (Signed)

neb/jlt/wd