From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Oct 16 2000 - 13:53:02 EDT
"About 250,000 Afghan refugees" gathered on Tajik-Afghan border - Iranian
radio
Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 14th October
[Presenter] A senior Tajik official has said that, if clashes in
northeastern areas of Afghanistan continue, a total of 250,000 displaced
Afghans will have to cross into Tajikistan. My colleague, Mr Rahmatkarim
Davlat, in Dushanbe has the details on this.
[Davlat] In an interview today, [with the Tajik service of Mashhad Radio]
Tajik Minister of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence Gen Mirzo Ziyo
said that about 250,000 displaced Afghans had gathered on the bank of the
River Panj. If clashes in the north[east] of Afghanistan resume, these
people will probably cross into Tajikistan. Mirzo Ziyo said: "However, we
are not able to accept such a number of refugees." According to Mr Mirzo
Ziyo, the ministry's officials will have to meet and have talks with
international aid organizations on this issue. Many aid organizations have
expressed their readiness to provide humanitarian aid for displaced
Afghans. The Tajik minister of emergency situations and civil defence said
that the ministry was obliged to carry out a humanitarian aid operation
throughout Tajikistan. However, it is not yet known when the initiative
would start.
Supporting his minister, the head of the general staff of the the Ministry
of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of Tajikistan, Bobokhon Boltuyev,
said that actually Tajikistan's [word indistinct] structures were ready to
receive likely Afghan refugees. He added that premises for accomodating
these refugees had even been prepared. However, he added that the current
situation in Tajikistan would not make it possible for the country to
receive Afghan refugees on its own. The country needs foodstuffs, bedding,
clothing and tents for them.
[Lt-] Gen Vladimir Makarov, the chief of the Russian Federal Border Service
Main Staff Operational Directorate [in Tajikistan] said: "Apart from Afghan
refugees, we are also ready to allow, armed forces under Ahmad Shah Masud
[senior commander of the Northern Alliance] into Tajikistan if a decision
to that effect is taken by the Tajik authorities." "In accordance with an
agreement, we will allow these forces, which we call armed individuals, to
enter Tajikistan."
According to reports from some sources, a group of Afghan refugees has
already crossed the Tajik-Afghan border together with drug smugglers, and
they are living in Tajikistan.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Persian 0130 gmt
14 Oct 00
BBC Mon CAU 141000 ker/sk
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