1.
CU Flag on pole, PULL BACK TO GV gates of palace.
0.06

2.
GV ZOOM TO SV Armed guards outside palace. (3 SHOTS)
0.19

3.
SV INTERIOR President Babrak Karmal seated at news conference.
0.26

4.
CU President Karmal speaking in English.
1.26

5.
GV CUTAWAY President Karmal.
1.28

6.
CU President Karmal speaking.
2.29

7.
GV EXTERIOR A tank memorial near palace.
2.32

8.
SV INTERIOR Afghanistan Prime Minister Sultan Ali Kishtmand seated at news conference.
2.37

9.
CU Prime Minister Kishtmand speaking in English.
3.12


SPEECH (TRANSCRIPT)



SEQ. 4: KARMAL: "All these bandit mercenaries exported from Pakistan to Afghanistan and make sabotage, burning the mosques, schools, hospitals in a terrorist way, a bandit way. But in spite of that our economical lives are going in normal situations. You can see yourself in going to bazaars in Afghanistan, in looking at the prices, how is the prices? Especially the first needs of the people. And we have (INDISTINCT) our positive development of the economy in spite of all this undeclared war, especially these provocations and invasions form Pakistan 's side.



SPEECH (TRANSCRIPT)



SEQ. 6: KARMAL: "This new recruitment, yes, is because I said in the first question that Afghanistan is an undeclared war. You know that Reagan himself said openly that America supports these bandits and mercenaries. And also you know that Pakistan also directly and indirectly cheat Afghanistan. Therefore to defend strongly our territory and our nation's sovereignty, our independence, this recruitment was necessary, that our nation be stronger and to be ready, against any aggression from outside."



SPEECH (TRANSCRIPT)



SEQ. 9: KISHTMAND: "Yes you have seen our statement that we have accepted that. The (United Nations) Secretary General himself, or his envoy, can take part in the negotiations which can take place between the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan and Pakistan, separately or trilaterally."





Initials JS





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: Government troops in Afghanistan have been engaged in fierce fighting in the strategically important Panjshir valley north of Kabul. The operation to clear the valley is the latest move by the Soviet backed government of President Babrak Karmal in his effort to crush the Mujahideen rebellion. The valley is the route used by the Soviets to supply their troops around Kabul.

SYNOPSIS: The Afghan capital is reported quiet but there have been incidents of firing in and around the city after curfew. The Presidential Palace is now guarded by units of the Afghan Army. Soviet troops had guarded it during the first months of their intervention, last year.

The Afghan President Babrak Karmal recently gave an exclusive interview to Visnews correspondent Prem Prakash.

The Afghanis insist that they are ready to negotiate with Pakistan and Iran as Prime Minister Sultal Ali Kishtmand explained.