DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243159
TITLE=AFGHAN-PAK IRAQ REACTION (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN HAVE REACTED ANGRILY TO THE U-S
MISSILE STRIKES ON IRAQ, CALLING THE MOVE "ANTI-ISLAMIC".
MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SUSPENDED U-N FLIGHTS TO
AFGHANISTAN FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. SARAH HORNER HAS THE
DETAILS FROM ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS EXPRESSED ITS GRAVE
CONCERN AND REGRET OVER THE U-S STRIKES ON BAGHDAD, AND HAS
CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO MORE STRIKES.
IN A STATEMENT, THE MINISTRY SAYS PAKISTAN FEELS THE PAIN OF THE
LONG SUFFERING IRAQI PEOPLE AND CALLS FOR AN END TO THEIR
HARDSHIP AND TRAGEDY. IT ALSO CALLS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
THE MINISTRY SAYS PAKISTAN URGES THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY
COUNCIL TO URGENTLY FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE DISPUTE
WITH IRAQ INSTEAD OF USING FORCE.
PAKISTAN'S UPPER PARLIAMENTARY HOUSE, THE SENATE, SET ASIDE
POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO ISSUE A UNANIMOUS STATEMENT CONDEMNING
THE AIR STRIKES, CALLING THEM "AN ATTACK ON HUMANITY AND THE
ISLAMIC WORLD".
HARDLINE RELIGIOUS GROUPS ACROSS PAKISTAN HAVE ALSO CONDEMNED THE
ATTACK. THE LARGEST GROUP, JAMAAT-I-ISLAMI, SAYS WASHINGTON HAS
ADOPTED THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST TO HOLD HUMANITY
HOSTAGE.
IN NEIGHBORING AFGHANISTAN, THE TALEBAN HAVE REACTED ANGRILY TO
THE STRIKE ON BAGHDAD. THE PAKISTAN-BASED AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS
(A-I-P) REPORTS AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM TALEBAN AUTHORITIES
CONDEMNING THE ATTACK AND SAYING IT WAS NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON
ONE COUNTRY BUT AGAINST ALL MUSLIMS.
MEANWHILE, THE U-N ACTING SPOKESPERSON IN ISLAMABAD, SUSAN
MANUEL, TELLS V-O-A THE UNITED NATIONS IS TAKING SOME
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
// MANUEL ACT//
THERE WERE SEVERAL SECURITY MEETINGS TODAY IN DIFFERENT
U-N BUILDINGS IN ISLAMABAD. THEY BASICALLY CAME TO THE
CONCLUSION THAT THEY WOULD NOT HEIGHTEN ANY LEVEL OF
SECURITY BUT THEY WOULD ADVISE U-N STAFF TO AVOID PUBLIC
PLACES. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE CANCELLED OUR
FLIGHT TO AFGHANISTAN FOR TODAY AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE. WHILE INTERNATIONAL STAFF DO NOT GO TO
AFGHANISTAN, WE DO HAVE PROGRAMMING GOING ON IN
AFGHANISTAN AND OTHER PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
// END ACT //
FOUR MONTHS AGO, AN ITALIAN U-N OFFICIAL WAS SHOT DEAD IN THE
AFGHAN CAPITAL ONE DAY AFTER THE U-S MISSILE STRIKES ON
AFGHANISTAN. THE TALEBAN BLAMED THE KILLING ON RENEGADE TALEBAN
SOLDIERS. INTERNATIONAL U-N STAFF WERE IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED AND
THEY HAVE STILL NOT RETURNED DUE TO CONTINUING SECURITY CONCERNS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/LTD/KL
17-Dec-98 8:52 AM EST (1352 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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