DATE=7/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN-EMBASSY BLAST (L)
NUMBER=2-264250
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  Pakistan has condemned a bomb attack on its 
embassy in the Afghan capital, Kabul.  As Ayaz Gul 
reports, the blast damaged the building, but has not 
caused any casualties.

TEXT:  The Pakistan embassy was closed at the time of 
explosion, which ripped through the visa-section 
building.  The blast destroyed the roof of the small 
building, which is separate from the main embassy 
inside the compound. 

The ruling Taleban faction is calling the attack a 
terrorist act and has blamed opposition forces for the 
bombing.

Ayaz Wazir, who looks after Afghan affairs at 
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, says his country strongly 
condemns the attack.

            // WAZIR ACT //

      The Afghan government (the Taleban) has also 
      condemned this dastardly act and is carrying out 
      investigations into the incident. 

            // END ACT //

The Pakistan embassy has been the only functioning 
diplomatic mission in Kabul since the Taleban seized 
the capital in 1996.  Pakistan, along with Saudi 
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are the only 
countries to recognize the hard-line group as the 
legitimate government of Afghanistan. 

The Taleban controls more than 90-percent of the war-
torn country, but attempts by its military to capture 
the remaining territory have been blocked by 
opposition forces.  

The attack on the Pakistani embassy comes days after 
opposition leader Ahmed Shah Masood accused Pakistan 
of militarily supporting the Taleban in the latest 
fighting north of Kabul. 

Pakistani spokesman Ayaz Wazir dismisses the charges.

            // WAZIR ACT TWO //

      This is not the first time that they are 
      accusing Pakistan of involvement in Afghanistan.  
      We have repeatedly said that we have nothing to 
      do in the fighting between the two sides.  There 
      is not a single person from the Pakistani side 
      (in Taleban ranks).

            // END ACT //

Meanwhile, fighting between the Taleban and opposition 
forces subsided after heavy exchanges of fire during 
the weekend.  Reports say there were no major changes 
in frontline positions during the latest round of 
hostilities in Afghanistan.

Last week, the U-N Security Council made another 
appeal for peace in Afghanistan.  It warned the 
warring sides against pursuing a military solution to 
the Afghan conflict.   (SIGNED)

NEB/AG/RAE



10-Jul-2000 08:57 AM EDT (10-Jul-2000 1257 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.