September 25, 1998

Taliban claim capture of key district in central Afghanistan
Fri 25 Sep 98 - 15:03 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 25 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban militia Friday captured a key district to extend their control in the central province of Bamiyan, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.

Voice of America

INTRO: TALEBAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE CAPTURED THE LAST AIRSTRIP IN CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN REMAINING IN OPPOSITION HANDS, BUT THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE SAYS THE AIRSTRIP IS STILL UNDER ITS CONTROL. SARAH HORNER HAS THE DETAILS FROM ISLAMABAD.
Taliban stage public execution
Fri 25 Sep 98 - 13:24 GMT

KABUL, Sept 25 (AFP) - The hardline Taliban authorities in the Afghan capital Friday had one man executed for murder and lopped the right hand off a thief in front of more than 4,000 people at a sports stadium.
Iran calls for regional detente but insists on need for strong military
Fri 25 Sep 98 - 11:08 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 25 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami vowed Friday to to work to ease regional tensions but insisted that his country, which has massed tens of thousands of troops on the Afghan border, needs a strong army.
Riyadh expelled Taliban official on refusal to hand over bin Laden: report
Fri 25 Sep 98 - 09:48 GMT

DUBAI, Sept 25 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia expelled the Taliban official in Riyadh to protest the militia's refusal to hand over Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, wanted for terrorist attacks in the kingdom, a newspaper said here Friday.

Iran Ready For Force If Afghan Diplomacy Fails .
08:10 a.m. Sep 25, 1998 Eastern

By Barry May

TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mohammad Khatami said Friday Iran would continue to work through diplomatic channels to ease tension with Afghanistan but was ready to use force if diplomacy failed.
Iran insists on trial for killers of diplomats in Afghanistan
Fri 25 Sep 98 - 09:42 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 25 (AFP) - Iran demanded on Friday that the murderers of its diplomats by the hardline Taliban militia in Afghanistan be extradited or tried by an international court.

The Taliban vs. the Rest of the World
Afghanistan's Friendless Faction Defiant of Foreign Demands

By Pamela Constable
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, September 25, 1998; Page A01

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan-Just as the Taliban appeared poised to consolidate its control over Afghanistan after two years of internal conflict and international isolation, the radical Islamic movement has been dealt a series of

Afghan ulema issue fatwa against aggression
advise Taliban to exercise restraint

Frontier Post

By AIMAL KHAN
PESHAWAR - A four-day Consultative Moot of Afghan Ulema concluded in Kabul Thursday after issuing six Fatwas (edicts) after extensively debating the current situation in the country, especially the Iranian threats to Taliban.

Iran fears ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan
asks Pakistan to help free its nationals

Frontier Post

From SIKANDER HAYAT
ISLAMABAD - Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Akhoundzadeh Thursday voiced fears of ethnic cleansing in Afghanistan, stressing the imperative of an immediate intra-Afghan dialogue.

Islamic countries coordinate stances on issues: OIC Chief

CAIRO: Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ezzidine Laraki has said that Islamic countries are coordinating stances on issues raised at the ongoing 53rd United Nations General Assembly.

Afghan peace talks minus Taliban to fail: Envoy

WASHINGTON: Taliban envoy to the United Nations Abdul Hakim Mujahid has said that diplomatic efforts by eight countries to end the civil conflict in Afghanistan and to defuse tensions with Iran would mot produce results without the participation of Taliban.

Pakistan to lift ban on trade with Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has agreed to lift ban on trade with Afghanistan after twenty years of suspension, reports BBC.

Saudi diplomats tight lipped over recall of envoy from Kabul

ISLAMABAD: The Saudi government's move to recall its ambassador from Afghanistan is untimely and could effect the efforts of probe commission constituted by the six-plus-two meeting to ascertain facts in the wear-torn country, said a diplomat.

The Afghan quagmire
Imtiaz Alam

The News: Jang (Opinion)

North West Asia is in great trouble and the Taliban are the catalyst behind it. Taliban have not just dragged Iran and the Central Asian republics into the conflict, they have also pushed Pakistan into a tense relationship with all its