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SLUG: 2-287202 Afghan Fighting
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DATE= 03/06/02 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-287202 TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (S ONLY) BYLINE=GARY THOMAS DATELINE=KABUL CONTENT= VOICE AT: INTRO: A northern Afghan warlord pledged Wednesday to send his forces anywhere in Afghanistan to assist in the fight against remnants of the Taleban and al-Qaeda. Meanwhile, Afghan's interim leader expressed confidence about the progress of the fight. V-O-A Correspondent Gary Thomas reports from Kabul. TEXT: Deputy Defense Minister Abdul Rashid Dostum says he will send his 10-thousand man force anywhere, to fight the Taleban and al-Qaeda. Speaking at a conference on building an Afghan national army, General Dostum -- an ethnic Uzbek who controls a sizable portion of northern Afghanistan -- says the al-Qaeda and Taleban leadership had the capacity to challenge the world. He says no one realized just how strong they were until U-S and Afghan forces met them in battle. But he asserts that 90 percent of the Taleban and al-Qaeda have been defeated. An American-led force is trying to dislodge a regrouped al-Qaeda-Taleban force, near Gardez in eastern Afghanistan. In brief comments after the meeting, Afghanistan's interim leader Hamid Karzai said he is confident in the outcome of the fight. // KARZAI ACTUALITY // It's a win-win situation. // END ACTUALITY // General Dostum pledges his support for Mr. Karzai and the interim government. (signed) Neb/gpt/wd |
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