October 6, 1998

Taliban accused of enlisting Pakistani mercenaries ahead of offensive
Tue 06 Oct 98 - 12:40 GMT

KABUL, Oct 6 (AFP) - The Taliban military machine has enlisted more Pakistani mercenaries in prepartion for a major offensive against arch rival Mohammad Shar Masood, the anti-Taliban alliance said Tuesday.

Afghan opposition braces for Taleban attack
11:01 a.m. Oct 06, 1998 Eastern

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The last major opposition forces fighting Afghanistan's ruling Taleban said on Tuesday they were braced for a fresh offensive against them by the Islamic militia.

Iran's Khatami urges action against Afghanistan
04:17 p.m Oct 06, 1998 Eastern

By Barry May

TEHRAN, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday urged international action against Afghanistan, saying the ruling Taleban had to understand they could not impose their will on all Afghans, Iran's state television reported.

FOCUS-Taleban link opium cultivation, recognition
01:08 p.m Oct 06, 1998 Eastern

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The Taleban on Tuesday offered to stop growing the poppies that make Afghanistan the world's second biggest opium producer, in exchange for recognition as the government of the country.

Opium output grows by 16% in Afghanistan: UN report

The News: Jang

ISLAMABAD: Opium production in Afghanistan grew 16 per cent to more than 3,200 tonnes this year, a United Nations study said on Monday. The study by the United Nations Drugs Control Programme showed an estimated
Pakistan says Afghan-Iran tension has decreased
Tue 06 Oct 98 - 11:55 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Oct 6 (AFP) - Pakistan Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz Tuesday said tension between Afghanistan and Iran had decreased as a result of Islamabad's efforts to defuse the crisis.
Taliban accuses UN of ignoring Iranian interference in Afghanistan
Tue 06 Oct 98 - 08:18 GMT

KABUL, Oct 6 (AFP) - Taliban Supreme Leader Mulla Mohammad Omar has blasted the United Nations saying it ignored Iran's anti-Afghan interference, official radio said Tuesday as the UN special envoy tries to ease tensions between Tehran and the Islamic militia.
Taliban "purify" ranks for crimes at Mazar-i-Sharif
Tue 06 Oct 98 - 07:54 GMT

KABUL, Oct 6 (AFP) - Three Afghan Taliban soldiers have been executed for crimes committed after the religious militia captured the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif two months ago, official radio said Tuesday.

Taleban execute anti-Osama Saudi youth

The News: jang
October 06, 1998

RIYADH: Taleban militiamen executed a young Saudi man for engaging in activities hostile to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, a newspaper said on Monday. The London-based Saudi paper, 'Al Hayat' said the Taleban executed the
UN welcomes Iranian restraint in dispute with Taliban: IRNA
Tue 06 Oct 98 - 00:57 GMT

TEHRAN, Oct 6 (AFP) - United Nations special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi expressed his appreciation Monday for Iran's restraint in its dispute with Kabul's Taliban militia, the Iranian News Agency IRNA reported.

Iran tells UN envoy troops stay on Afghan border
03:32 a.m. Oct 06, 1998 Eastern

By Barry May

TEHRAN, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Iranian forces massed on the border with Afghanistan will not pull back until Tehran's terms for peace with the Taleban are met, Iran's defence minister told a visiting U.N. special envoy, diplomats said on Tuesday.

Taleban zealots bewildered by US hostility

Christopher Thomas writes from Kabul that Afghanistan's rulers cannot comprehend the shifting sands of diplomacy

The Times of London
October 6 1998

THE reclusive Taleban leader in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammed Omar, is demanding international recognition for what he describes, somewhat excessively, as his Government. He will never get it. His incomprehension of world diplomacy is as total as the world's incomprehension of him.

UN invites Taliban to Islamabad for talks on tension with Iran

ISLAMABAD: The visiting United Nations envoy on Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi Monday invited Taliban leaders for talks at Islamabad, according to James Ngobi, acting chief of the UN Special Mission to Afghanistan.

Opposition commanders join Taliban in Ghazni

JALALABAD: A number of Afghan opposition commanders have joined Taliban in Ghazni province.

Taleban seek to improve women's lot

Source: BBC
Tuesday, October 6, 1998 Published at 01:38 GMT 02:38 UK

The supreme leader of the Taleban movement in Afghanistan, Mullah Mohammad Omar, has issued a decree which he says will protect women's rights.

The Brahimi mission

Frontier Post (Editorial)

UN special envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi has arrived in Iran for talks with Iranian officials on defusing tension between Tehran and the Taliban militia in Afghanistan. He says there is no reason for Iran and the Taliban to go to war.