From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Sep 26 2000 - 10:20:00 EDT
RUSSIAN ARMY, BORDER TROOPS ON ALERT IN TAJIKISTAN
The Russian 201st army division and border guards in southern
Tajikistan were placed on alert on 25 September, as fighting
between Taliban forces and the Northern Alliance in
neighboring Afghanistan advanced to within 5-7 kilometers
from the border, Russian agencies reported. Also on 25
September, Interfax quoted unidentified Russian military
sources as saying Moscow will not send its forces to help the
embattled Northern Alliance or make available any military
aid. Russian officials had said earlier this month that
Moscow will not intervene in the fighting in Afghanistan. On 22 September,
Afghanistan's President and Northern Alliance leader
Burhanuddin Rabbani had appealed to "Afghanistan's friends"
to provide military help to the Northern Alliance, Interfax
reported. LF
|
