Afghanistan News July 27, 1998

July 27, 1998

Afghanistan Weekly Update No. 272
Publication produced jointly by U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA)

Voice of America

THE UNITED NATIONS HAS MADE A FORMAL REQUEST TO THE
TALEBAN FOR AN URGENT MEETING TO DISCUSS THE RECENT EXPULSION OF
AID AGENCIES FROM THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL.

ICRC powerless to fill aid gap in Afghan capital

Mon 27 Jul 98 - 11:15 GMT

KABUL, July 27 (AFP) - The International Red Cross said on Monday it could not fill the gap caused by the Taliban's expulsion of foreign aid organisations from the Afghan capital.

Russia, Iran aiding Afghan anti-Taliban guerrillas: US

Mon 27 Jul 98 - 10:32 GMT

WASHINGTON, July 27 (AFP) - The Russian and Iranian govenments are secretly supporting anti-Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan, the New York Times reported Monday, quoting senior US government officials.

Russians Are Back in Afghanistan, Aiding Rebels

By JAMES RISEN

The New York Times

WASHINGTON -- In February 1989, the last Soviet troops wearily crossed the Amu Darya River bridge out of Afghanistan, a defeated army walking home to an empire on the verge of disintegration.

Voice of America

TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY AN OPPOSITION COMMANDER AND 15-HUNDRED FIGHTERS HAVE SWITCHED TO THEIR SIDE -- EXTENDING TALEBAN CONTROL IN CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN. THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE SAYS IT HAS NO REPORT OF ONE OF ITS COMMANDERS DEFECTING TO THE TALEBAN.

Increasing concern in Afghan capital over water and food supplies
BBC
Foreign aid workers remaining in Afghan capital, Kabul, have warned of a further breakdown in the city's water supply following the recent departure of most international relief agencies.

Russia May Be Aiding Afghan Fighters

Monday, July 27, 1998; 9:22 a.m. EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Russia is again helping Afghan fighters nearly 10 years after the Soviet retreat from the Central Asian nation, The New York Times reported Monday.

Taleban says it took territory from Afghan foes
06:10 a.m. Jul 27, 1998 Eastern

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, July 27 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban movement said on Monday it had seized a vast swathe of territory in the central province of Ghor after some 1,500 fighters loyal to the opposition alliance changed sides.