Taliban say it is ready to defend possible Russian action

November 13, 2000
Web posted at: 7:11 AM HKT (2311 GMT)

KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement said on Sunday it was ready to defend the country against any possible Russian attack and denied it had fired mortar shells into neighbouring Tajikistan.

"Russia should understand that Afghans, on the basis of their national and Islamic responsibilities, are vigilant for its defence," a Taliban Foreign Ministry statement said.

The statement was issued a day after Russia warned of possible action following the landing in Tajikistan of stray mortar bombs from fighting between the Taliban and its foes, the northern opposition alliance.

Russian forces in Tajikistan said on Saturday that some 10 shells fired by the Taliban from northeastern Afghanistan landed in Tajikistan and that it did not rule out the possibility of a punitive attack on the Taliban.

The Taliban denied the charge and said it was a conspiracy hatched by Russia and its opponents led by commander Ahmad Shah Masood against the Taliban, which is battling to capture Masood's last pockets of resistance in north-eastern Afghanistan.

It said Russia, which occupied Afghanistan for 10 years in the 1980s, also wanted to justify its military presence in the central Asian region.

Russia is the main backer of Masood, the last potent foe of the Taliban, which controls more than 95 percent of the country.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Russia threatens to fire on Taliban over border fighting
November 11, 2000

See related sites about Central Asia
Central Asian media sites

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.