Ashgabat, Moscow; 1 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Central Asia and Moscow are again expressing concern about events in Afghanistan and fear that violence might spread.
Interfax news agency quotes a top official in Russia's Foreign Ministry, Rashid Khamidulin, as saying Moscow will maintain a policy of strict non-interference in Afghanistan. But he also urged the United Nations and the world community to encourage dialogue among Afghanistan's warring factions.
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service issued a statement saying Afghan developments are a priority. Of particular interest, the statement said, is security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.
Kyrgyzstan, which also has troops deployed with the Russian-led, CIS peace-keeping forces on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, has called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation. Other countries and the deposed government of Afghanistan have also called for Security Council action.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on all sides to enter into peace talks to avoid additional civilian deaths and the possible destabilization of the region. And Almaty urged the international community to take all necessary steps to end the bloodshed.
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov has summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Ashgabat for talks on the situation in Afghanistan.
Interfax news agency quotes a top official in Russia's Foreign Ministry, Rashid Khamidulin, as saying Moscow will maintain a policy of strict non-interference in Afghanistan. But he also urged the United Nations and the world community to encourage dialogue among Afghanistan's warring factions.
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service issued a statement saying Afghan developments are a priority. Of particular interest, the statement said, is security along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border.
Kyrgyzstan, which also has troops deployed with the Russian-led, CIS peace-keeping forces on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, has called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation. Other countries and the deposed government of Afghanistan have also called for Security Council action.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling on all sides to enter into peace talks to avoid additional civilian deaths and the possible destabilization of the region. And Almaty urged the international community to take all necessary steps to end the bloodshed.
Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov has summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Ashgabat for talks on the situation in Afghanistan.