Taliban movement to continue aid to Chechen separatists

Friday, December 01, 2000 3:14 AM EST

ISLAMABAD, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - Afghan Taliban bosses intend to continue support for Chechen separatists, said on Thursday ambassador of the Taliban administration in Islamabad Abdul Salam Zaif.

According to the ambassador, "freedom fighters" in Chechnya, Kashmir and Palestine are not terrorists. Therefore, each Moslem country is duty-bound to render aid to them. "We shall support these liberation movements in future too," Zaif announced.

He lashed out at Russia which allegedly tries to isolate Afghanistan. The Taliban representative claimed at the same time that the present Kabul regime abides by the policy of non-interference in domestic affairs of other states and does not encourage terrorism.

Last January, the Taliban movement established "diplomatic relations" with Chechen separatists, allocating a building in downtown Kabul for their "mission".

The Russian Foreign Ministry resolutely denounced that provocative move by the Taliban movement at that time, calling it "legally insignificant" and having no legal force.