AFGHANISTAN: THE TALIBAN IN ACTION скачать в хорошем качестве

AFGHANISTAN: THE TALIBAN IN ACTION

(19 Feb 1995) Eng/Dara/Nat Afghanistan's Islamic student army, the Taliban, advanced Sunday to within 35 kilometres of the capital, Kabul. An APTV correspondent filmed dramatic footage of the Taliban in action on the front line. The student army, almost unknown just a few months ago, now appear to have acquired an aura of invincibility. They've replaced Gulbadin Hekmatyar's troops as the country's main opposition force. And now they're negotiating terms to join a new multi-party commission to run the country once President Rabbani steps down under the terms of a United Nations peace plan. Afghanistan's militant student group, the Taliban, test the military hardware that Gulbadin Hekmatyar abandoned when he fled his base last week. After being entrenched for three years, bombarding government forces in Kabul, Hekmatyar did not even challenge the Taliban. It was a severe military setback, but in the face of a force that has conquered most of the south of Afghanistan it is clear that he had little choice. The Taliban were unheard of until late last year. Their rise has been so dramatic that little is known about the group. In the last four months, they have disarmed some of the country's most important military commanders. Their numbers and support have grown throughout their campaign. They now have thousands of troops, many of whom joined them from the regions they have conquered. They say they want to clear the country of its weapons and rid Afghanistan of leaders who do not rule in the interests of the people. Their determination is clear. SOUNDBITE: Dara (Taliban language) We want to go to Kabul. And it is our wish to establish a new Islamic government. SUPER CAPTION: Taliban fighter Afghanistan has fought a bitter civil war ever since the communist government was ousted in 1992. Fighting between government forces and Hekmatyar's troops was especially severe over the past year. Much of the city is now reduced to rubble. Every building bears the scars of the fighting that has gone before. Fed up with the civil war, many civilians here see the Taliban as Afghanistan's saviours. SOUNDBITE English Everybody say welcome to Taliban, everybody say that. SUPER CAPTION: Abdul Rauf, Kabul resident Fighting still continues in Kabul. Rocket attacks between government and a Shiite faction in the south west of the city are commonplace. Shells still land in the streets of Kabul. Gunfire can be heard throughout the city. United Nations envoy Mahmood Mesteri arrived in Kabul over the weekend armed with a peace plan designed to end the vicious civil war and establish a multi-party governing council. President Rabbani is due to hand over power as part of the plan, but the peace process is being confused by the fact that the Taliban so far have refused to take part in the negotiations. The talks are unlikely to succeed unless this new force in Afghanistan come to the negotiating table. President Rabbani's troops on the front line are barely one hundred yards from the Taliban's forces. It is an uneasy peace. For the moment the Taliban seem happy to maintain their positions on the outskirts of Kabul, watching over their spoils of war. But many believe this situation will change unless the Taliban are satisfied that the powers they have challenged change their ways. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...