U.N. AID STAFF LEAVE KABUL

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 19. The United Nations and other international aid agencies
have withdrawn all their international staff from Afghanistan fearing
backlash against the proposed additional sanctions by the United Nations
Security Council.

The draft sanctions, which include an extension of the November curbs,
likely to be discussed at a Security Council meeting in New York later
Tuesday, include an arms embargo, freeze on Taliban assets abroad, tighten
an existing flight and restrict the sale of chemicals used to make heroin
from poppies.

In the last few weeks, the U.N. has been pulling out its staff in ones and
twos in preparation for the complete withdrawal. The last batch of the
foreign staff with the U.N. and many international aid agencies reached
Islamabad today.

The Radio Pakistan reported today that the head of the U.N. assistance for
Afghanistan, Mr. Erick de Mul, had informed the Taliban Foreign Minister,
Mr. Mulla Muttawakil, the decision. Mr. Muttawakil assured him all
protection to the humanitarian programme but did not rule out the
possibility of protests.

The U.N. appears to be guided by the experience of the last November
sanctions. Some of the demonstrations had turned violent, culminating in
the ransacking of a UNCHR office in Kabul in one incident.

Before the decision on Monday to temporarily withdraw all personnel, the
U.N.'s international humanitarian presence had dropped from 75 to only 25
last month. The U.N. agencies involved in humanitarian assistance in
Afghanistan are opposed to further sanctions on the ground that they hurt
the people more than those who are sought to be targeted.