September 3, 1998

AFGHANISTAN: Thousands of civilians killed following Taleban takeover of Mazar-e Sharif
News Service 171/98 AI INDEX: ASA 11/07/98 3 SEPTEMBER 1998
Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
Taliban massacred thousands of civilians in Mazar-i-Sharif: report
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 16:04 GMT

LONDON, Sept 3 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban forces massacred thousands of members of an ethnic minority group after capturing the city of Mazar-i-Sharif last month, the Amnesty International human rights group said Thursday.

FOCUS-Amnesty accuses Afghan Taleban of massacres

01:09 p.m Sep 03, 1998 Eastern

By Raja Asghar

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban militia massacred thousands of civilians and possibly 10 Iranian diplomats and a journalist after seizing Mazar-i-Sharif town in the north last month, Amnesty International said on Thursday.

Taliban reject Amnesty report on civilian massacre

Thu 03 Sep 98 - 17:56 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban militia on Thursday denied they massacred thousands of civilians after capturing the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif last month.
Five Iranians freed by Taliban arrive in Pakistan
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 16:05 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (AFP) - Five Iranians released by Afghanistan's Taliban militia in a gesture aimed at easing tension with Tehran arrived here late Thursday by air, airport sources and witnesses said.
Taliban repulse attack by rivals west of Kabul : report
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 14:50 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (AFP) - Taliban Islamic militia have repulsed an attack by rival forces in Wardak province west of Kabul, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported Thursday.
UN Afghan operations seen in limbo for up to 12 months: Sources
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 10:42 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (AFP) - Limited United Nations operations in Afghanistan might resume shortly but it could be another 12 months before aid programs are restored to normal -- if at all, UN sources said Thursday.
UN hopes to repatriate 100,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan in 1998
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 10:24 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (AFP) - The United Nations plans to repatriate about 100,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan by the end of 1998, UN spokesman Rupert Colville said Thursday.
Iran welcomes Taliban's decision to free three nationals
Thu 03 Sep 98 - 08:42 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 3 (AFP) - Iran on Thursday hailed a decision by the Taliban to release three Iranian truck drivers, but called on the Islamic militia to free all Iranian prisoners held in Afghanistan.

Missing Iran envoys feared killed in Afghanistan
11:34 a.m. Sep 03, 1998 Eastern

ISLAMABAD, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The human rights group Amnesty International said on Thursday that 10 Iranian diplomats and an Iranian journalist missing in northern Afghanistan since August 8 were reported to have been killed.

Iran war games send warning to Taleban - analysts
11:47 a.m. Sep 03, 1998 Eastern

By Barry May

DUBAI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Large-scale Iranian manoeuvres on the border with Afghanistan are a warning to the Taleban militia which they cannot afford to ignore, military analysts said on Thursday.

 Taleban step up efforts to recruit fighters

By Rahimullah Yusufzai
The News: jang
September 03, 1998

PESHAWAR: Taleban have stepped up efforts to recruit fighters to join their forces planning assaults on the last opposition strongholds in Parwan, Kapisa, Badakhshan and Bamiyan provinces.

 iran calls for dispatch of fact-finding mission to afghanistan

new york, united nations, sept. 3, irna -- iran wednesday expressed concern over the irresponsible statements made by taliban leaders on the whereabouts of iranian nationals abducted by the group in afghanistan and called for dispatch of a

 Pak. caught between Taliban, Iran

Date: 04-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 :: Col: d

By Amit Baruah
Hindu Online

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 3.

Pakistan diplomacy is at the crossroads vis-a-vis Iran. Teheran, which has been working on Pakistan to secure the release of 11 of its diplomats reportedly held by the Taliban, is pressuring Islamabad to help get these detainees freed.

Pak. Minister defends Islamisation move

Date: 04-09-1998 :: Pg: 14 :: Col: e

By Amit Baruah
Hindu Online

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 3.

The Nawaz Sharif Government has been pushed on the backfoot over the Islamisation Bill, with its chief spokesman stating today that the ``intention was not to drive women to the four walls of their house, chop off hands without batting an eyelid or treat minorities as second-rate citizens''.

A Brush With Laden on the Jihad Front Line

Edward Girardet
Christian Science Monitor
Opinion/Essays
Monday August 31, 1998

A week before the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989, I traveled there to report on the final days of the decade-long Red Army occupation.