Military

DATE=01/31/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=AFGHANISTAN / FIGHTING (L)

NUMBER=2-285871

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=KABUL

INTERNET=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Heavy fighting is reported in the eastern Afghan town of Gardez as two rival factions battle for control. Many residents are said to have fled the town and some reports indicate dozens of people have been killed. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Kabul.

TEXT: Explosions, mortar and machine gun fire were reported from around Gardez, capital of the eastern province of Paktia. Heavy fighting was reported on three sides of the town. U-S planes were reported flying over the area, but they did not get involved in the action.

The fighting involves forces loyal to Padsha Khan Zadran and the forces of a rival tribal leader, Haji Saifullah. Tension has been brewing for some time, but broke out into open fighting Wednesday. Padsha Khan was recently appointed governor of Paktia province by the newly installed interim government of Hamid Karzai in Kabul. But, his appointment has been opposed by members of the Gardez local government, including Haji Saifullah, who heads the town council.

Padsha Kahn accuses his opponents of being supporters of the ousted Taleban and the al-Qaida terrorist network, a charge his opponents vehemently deny.

They instead accuse Padsha Khan of having given U-S forces false information and of having called in American air strikes to try to eliminate his rivals.

Last month, a convoy of local government representatives was bombed on its way to Kabul for the inauguration of Mr. Karzai. Twelve people were killed in the attack.

The fighting in Gardez is the latest and most serious incident highlighting the fragile security situation in Afghanistan. While Afghan factions have agreed on an interim government, underlying rivalries remain.

Mr. Karzai has said incidents between rival factions are inevitable. However, major factional fighting could undermine the stability of his government. Mr. Karzai seems all too aware of the tenuous security in his country and during a speech to the U-N Security Council Wednesday, he repeated his request for a larger international security presence in Afghanistan.

A few thousand foreign troops currently help maintain security in the capital, Kabul. That force is expected to reach close to five-thousand in the weeks to come. However, Mr. Karzai would like to see a much larger force spread throughout the country. A senior United Nations official recently said an international force of some 30-thousand may be needed to help ensure security in Afghanistan. (Signed)

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