From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Nov 14 2000 - 10:17:23 EST
AFGHAN DIPLOMAT SAYS PAKISTAN SPEAKS THROUGH TALIBAN MOUTH
MOSCOW. Nov 13 (Interfax) - The Sunday statement made by the
Taliban defense minister about the possible spread of the Afghan
conflict into neighboring countries mirrors the opinion of Pakistan,
First Secretary of the Afghan Embassy in Russia Sahi Gairat told
Interfax on Monday.
He said that the information spread by the Taliban is the words of
Pakistan.
Pakistan wants to become a small superpower and aspires to a
certain leadership in the Islamic world, Gairat said. Pakistan is
striving to turn the Taliban movement, which it is developing and
guiding, into an issue on a regional scale, he noted.
As for Russian-Afghan relations, the diplomat said these are normal
relations between two countries. Today's Russia is not the former Soviet
Union but a free and democratic country, and Afghanistan favors its
prosperity, which will promote well being and tranquility in the region,
he said.
The Taloquan strategic township in northern Afghanistan is still
under Taliban control, the diplomat said. However, the Northern Alliance
is strengthening its positions and there is enough moral and technical
power to continue the liberation of territories occupied by the Taliban,
he noted.
The Taliban controls up to 90% of Afghanistan's territory,
including the capital Kabul, but the international community does not
recognize the legitimacy of the Taliban government.
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