October 28, 1998

AFGHANISTAN UPDATE

Fox Research ("FR")

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER 1998

Report No 66 - 98

COMMENTARY

FR has learnt that Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Alliance's Chief Military Commander, has called a weeklong cease-fire in his battle with the Taleban militia. Additionally, senior Alliance identities are thought to be on their way to Afghanistan for an Alliance "emergency" meeting.
Opposition commanders meet in northeast Afghanistan
Wed 28 Oct 98 - 14:56 GMT

YANGI QALA, Afghanistan, Oct 28 (AFP) - Anti-Taliban coalition leaders on Wednesday met with Ahmed Shah Masood to discuss ways of coordinating their activities in norhteastern Afghanistan.

Voice of America

INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN 60 TRUCKS, WORTH ONE-MILLION-DOLLARS, TO THE U-N'S DEMINING PROGRAM IN AFGHANISTAN. SARAH HORNER REPORTS AS RELIEF

Afghan foes confirm week truce to swap prisoners
06:45 a.m. Oct 28, 1998 Eastern

KABUL, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban Islamic movement and its opponents said on Wednesday they had entered a week's truce between them to exchange prisoners.

Ethnic Rivalries in Afghanistan

By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, October 28, 1998; 1:36 a.m. EST

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Barely 14 years old and already life is a dilemma for Mohammed Jan.

U.S. Cautious On Afghan Trial For Bin Laden
12:34 a.m. Oct 28, 1998 Eastern

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said Tuesday it was too early to speculate about any trial of Saudi dissident Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan.

Pakistan to provide 0.6 million tons wheat to Afghanistan in 1998-99

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has promised to supply 0.6 million tons of wheat to Afghanistan in 1998-99 to meet the staple food requirement of the neighboring war-torn country, an official in the Food Ministry said.

 Saudis and the Taliban
*Diplomacy and the theological equation
Frontier Post (Article)

Jan Mohammad Butt

The recent recalling of ambassadors __ amounting effectively to a severance of diplomatic relations with the Taliban by the Saudi government __ has taken many observers by surprise. However, many were even more surprised when the