DATE=7/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN-EMBASSY BLAST (L)
NUMBER=2-264250
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan has condemned a bomb attack on its
embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul. As Ayaz Gul
reports, the blast damaged the building, but has not
caused any casualties.
TEXT: The Pakistan embassy was closed at the time of
explosion, which ripped through the visa-section
building. The blast destroyed the roof of the small
building, which is separate from the main embassy
inside the compound.
The ruling Taleban faction is calling the attack a
terrorist act and has blamed opposition forces for the
bombing.
Ayaz Wazir, who looks after Afghan affairs at
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, says his country strongly
condemns the attack.
// WAZIR ACT //
The Afghan government (the Taleban) has also
condemned this dastardly act and is carrying out
investigations into the incident.
// END ACT //
The Pakistan embassy has been the only functioning
diplomatic mission in Kabul since the Taleban seized
the capital in 1996. Pakistan, along with Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are the only
countries to recognize the hard-line group as the
legitimate government of Afghanistan.
The Taleban controls more than 90-percent of the war-
torn country, but attempts by its military to capture
the remaining territory have been blocked by
opposition forces.
The attack on the Pakistani embassy comes days after
opposition leader Ahmed Shah Masood accused Pakistan
of militarily supporting the Taleban in the latest
fighting north of Kabul.
Pakistani spokesman Ayaz Wazir dismisses the charges.
// WAZIR ACT TWO //
This is not the first time that they are
accusing Pakistan of involvement in Afghanistan.
We have repeatedly said that we have nothing to
do in the fighting between the two sides. There
is not a single person from the Pakistani side
(in Taleban ranks).
// END ACT //
Meanwhile, fighting between the Taleban and opposition
forces subsided after heavy exchanges of fire during
the weekend. Reports say there were no major changes
in frontline positions during the latest round of
hostilities in Afghanistan.
Last week, the U-N Security Council made another
appeal for peace in Afghanistan. It warned the
warring sides against pursuing a military solution to
the Afghan conflict. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RAE
10-Jul-2000 08:57 AM EDT (10-Jul-2000 1257 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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