From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Fri Oct 06 2000 - 10:36:18 EDT
MASSOUD MAY BE ALLOWED TO RETREAT TO TAJIKISTAN
According to senior Russian Federal Border Service official Lieutenant
General Vladimir Makarov, anti-Taliban Northern Alliance
units commanded by Ahmed Shah Massoud may be allowed to
retreat from northern Afghanistan into Tajikistan if the
Tajik government gives its permission for them to do so,
Russian agencies reported quoting the 5 October issue of
"Rossiiskie vesti." Makarov added that he does not believe
the Taliban will launch an attack on neighboring CIS states
in the near future. Also on 5 October, First Deputy Chief of
Russian Army General Staff Colonel General Valerii Manilov
said he sees no need to strengthen the Russian troop
contingent in Tajikistan, Interfax reported. Manilov also
said he does not think the Taliban are preparing to advance
beyond the borders of Afghanistan, but warned that "we must
consider all possible developments...so the situation does
not take us by surprise." LF
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