From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Tue Nov 28 2000 - 12:21:38 EST
Uzbek, Turkmen "soft line" on Afghan Taleban "temporary", Tajik officials
say
Excerpts from report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 26th November
[Announcer] The media, particularly the media in Tajikistan, have been
paying a great deal of attention to the situation in the region,
particularly in Afghanistan. The Tajik news agency Asia-Plus has reported
that Uzbekistan has had diplomatic talks with the Taleban in Islamabad
[Pakistan] to discuss issues relating to opening the common border between
the two countries. [passage omitted: repeat of Asia-Plus report on this
subject]
On the sidelines of this report one may ask about the reaction shown by
other regional countries, including Tajikistan, to the soft line on the
Taleban which can be observed in the policy of some of the countries in the
region. A Tajik deputy foreign minister, Abdunabi Sattorzoda, [formerly one
of the Tajik opposition leaders] thinks that some of the Central Asian
countries have adopted such a stand through lack of awareness and because
they have no definite policy on regional problems. Mr Sattorzoda says:
[Sattorzoda] The soft line taken by some Central Asian states in their
policy on the Taleban is prompted by their interests, in the first
instance, economic interests. For example, Turkmenistan is ready to
cooperate with the Taleban only for the sake of its economic interests. It
has been cooperating with them. There has been a softening in Uzbekistan's
policy, as well. However, this soft line indicates that these countries
have no definite policy on this issue. If they had a definite policy on the
Taleban, they would not have taken such a stand. Why? It is because the
Taleban are by their very nature a force of violence in the area. The
Taleban are a destructive and undermining force. They pose a very serious
threat to our region, particularly to Tajikistan.
[Announcer] An expert from the Strategic Centre under the president of
Tajikistan, Ismoil Rahmatov, thinks that the soft line on the Taleban
observed in the policy of some Central Asian countries is a mistake and is
temporary.
[Rahmatov] I think some Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan, are adhering to a wrong policy on this issue. I think the
change in their policy on the Taleban is temporary.
[Announcer] It should be added that most of Tajikistan's experts,
particulary the government of this country, think that the Afghan problem
can be settled only by peaceful means, particularly by political talks and
setting up a broad-based government in the country.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Persian 1600 gmt
26 Nov 00
BBC Mon CAU 261100/** va/as
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