Russia Passes To United Nations Data On Militant Training Centers In Afghanistan

Russia has passed to the United Nations' Sanctions Committee materials on an Afghan terrorist infrastructure, kept in the Taliban hands, say Moscow-based diplomatic sources. According to sources, the materials were prepared in keeping with resolution No 1333 of the UN Security Council on tougher sanctions against the Taliban. The documents contain concrete figures on these terrorist-training centers and the approximate number of militants from different extremist organisations, with Chechen ones among them. In the figures of the Russian side, there are now between 400 and 500 such militants. They penetrate into Afghanistan mostly from Pakistan and also possibly through the border with Tajikistan. Regarding the whereabouts of the world's terrorist No. 1, Osama bin Laden, the source said that bin Laden has quarters in different parts of Afghanistan, mostly southern, central and eastern. According to some information, he is now building an underground commander center near the settlement of Spin Buldak, not far from the border with Pakistan. The construction involves about 50 trucks, 500 workers, and 10 to 15 engineers, including foreign ones. Equipment purchased from various countries is being brought in. Assessing the domestic political situation in Afghanistan, the source said that now "the Taliban appears stronger militarily". The Northern Alliance, he said, is too fragmented, but several serious moves towards consolidation of its forces have been made recently. In addition, both financial and military capabilities of the Taliban are deteriorating, noted the source.

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