August 17, 1998

Taliban Opponents Claim Gains
By Zaheeruddin Abdullah
Associated Press Writer
Monday, August 17, 1998; 5:17 p.m. EDT
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The opposition claimed it recaptured a strategic town on Monday, even as Taliban bombs hit a key opposition stronghold in central Afghanistan, wounding three children.

Taliban Stops Minority Afghans
By Zaheeruddin Abdullah
Associated Press Writer
Sunday, August 16, 1998; 1:01 p.m. EDT
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The Taliban religious army has detained hundreds of minority Afghans after capturing a key northern city, witnesses and aid workers said Sunday.

ICRC official says Mazar-i-Sharif calm under Taliban
Mon 17 Aug 98 - 14:28 GMT
KABUL, Aug 17 (AFP) - A senior official from the International Committee of the Red Cross said Monday the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif was "calm" following its capture by the Taliban militia.

C.Asian states plan regional security talks
08:42 a.m. Aug 17, 1998 Eastern
ALMATY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Four ex-Soviet republics in central Asia will hold security talks to discuss the threat posed by Afghanistan's purist Islamic Taleban militia, the Kazakh presidential press service said on Monday.

 taliban ideologue wants pakistan to be another qandahar
london, aug. 17, irna -- mullah nizamuddin shamzi, the so-called ideologue behind the taliban movement in afghanistan, says that he would like to see pakistan become another qandahar.

  judiciary warns countries fanning flames of war in afghanistan
tehran, aug. 17, irna -- iranian judiciary on monday warned countries,fanning the flame of war in afghanistan, against continuation of the ongoing crisis in that country.

unesco condemns taliban for utter disregard of international law
london, aug. 17, irna - unesco director general frederico mayor monday condemned the taliban militia in afghanistan as a power which "openly violates human rights," which "humiliates and discriminates against women" and which "inflict mutilations."

kharazi to explain afghan policy to majlis
tehran, aug. 17, irna -- foreign minister kamal kharazi will respond to questions of majlis deputies about the destiny of scores of iranians kidnapped by the taliban militia in mazar-i sharif.

 any action to preserve iran's security is legitimate, say daily
tehran, aug. 17, irna -- the english daily 'iran news' monday expressing concern over the possible creation of insecurity in the country's eastern border said that any action to preserve iran's security is legitimate.

leader of pak's muslim league condemns taliban's kidnapping
islamabad, aug. 17, irna -- abdullah khan, one of the leaders of pakistan's muslim league chaired by muhammad nawaz sharif, the prime minister of pakistan said here sunday that holding of 11 iranian diplomats and the irna's correspondent captive is contrary to the diplomatic norms and unethical practice.

No tension between Pakistan, Iran: Nawaz
LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Saturday said there is no tension between Pakistan and Iran about Afghan conflict.NNI

Pak-Iran bid for Afghan peace to continue
ISLAMABAD (NNI) - Pakistan has not given up its joint efforts with Iran for peaceful resolution of the Afghan conflict, a senior Pakistani diplomat said on Sunday.

Masood warns Pakistan against military support to Taliban
MOSCOW: Prominent commander of United Islamic Front of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Masood has warned Pakistan for its support to Taliban militia.

Pak Army's involvement in Afghanistan denied
RAWALPINDI (APP) - The Ministry of Defence has expressed its surprise and anguish at the accusation of involvement of Pakistan Armed Forces in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

Bombing Suspect Questioned in Kenya
By Dave Carpenter
Associated Press Writer
Monday, August 17, 1998; 11:25 a.m. EDT
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- FBI agents and Kenyan police questioned a suspect in Nairobi today, hoping to find some trail to the terrorists who left 257 people dead and thousands injured in the two U.S. embassy bombings in East Africa.

Russia gives 3 coptors to Masud
Frontier Post
By M.T.ALAM
PESHAWAR - In a bid to halt the Taliban advances towards the retreating Northern Alliance strongholds the Russian Federation is reported to have provided three military cargo helicopters to Ahmad Shah Masud last Thursday.

ICRC team leaves for Afghanistan
By AIMAL KHAN
PESHAWAR - In a bid to resume operations in Mazar-i- Sharif, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Sunday sent a four-member team to Northern Afghanistan.

The Taliban and their neighbours: An appraisal
Frontier Post
Abdullah Jan Khalil
The Taliban after hectic efforts, ultimately succeeded in capturing the strategic stronghold of the Northern-Alliance i.e. Jozijan and Mazar-e-Sharif under the Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostam and Faryab, and Taker and Baghlan under Ahmad Shah