September 7, 1998

Heavy Fighting Occurs Near Kabul
By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press Writer
Monday, September 7, 1998; 2:05 p.m. EDT

SAR-E-KOTAL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The thunder of rocket fire and the roar of fighter jets broke the dawn silence Monday as fierce fighting erupted just 10 miles north of the war-ruined capital of Kabul.

Voice Of America

INTRO: FIERCE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE NORTH OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL. SARAH HORNER REPORTS THE OPPOSITION NORTHERN ALLIANCE SAYS IT HAS CAPTURED STRATEGIC HIGH GROUND, BUT THE TALEBAN SAY THEY STILL CONTROL THE AREA.
Afghan opposition offensive amid Iran/Taliban tension
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 16:16 GMT

KABUL, Sept 7 (AFP) - Opposition forces broke through Taliban lines north of Kabul Monday, intensifying pressure on the Islamic militia as Iranian troops massed on the Afghan border, independent sources said.
Mosood's strikes take advantage of Iranian pressure: analysts
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 13:42 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7 (AFP) - A sustained attack against Afghanistan's Taliban by opposition alliance forces north of Kabul may be timed to take advantage of a threatening Iranian troop buildup along the border, analysts said Monday.

Afghan Taleban Lose Key Post North of Kabul
06:59 a.m. Sep 07, 1998 Eastern

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban militia lost a strategic hilltop post just north of the capital Kabul on Monday to fighters loyal to opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood, the purist Islamic militia said.

Taleban Locked in Heavy Clashes North of Kabul
01:42 a.m. Sep 07, 1998 Eastern

KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's purist Islamic Taleban militia clashed with fighters loyal to opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood north of the capital Kabul on Monday, residents said.

Tehran-Taleban row worries Afghan refugees in Iran
09:52 a.m. Sep 07, 1998 Eastern

By Kaveh Basmenji

TEHRAN, Sept 7 (Reuters) - High tension between Iran and Afghanistan's Taleban movement has sparked concern among some of the more than 1.4 million Afghan refugees living in Iran about their fate.

ANALYSIS-Iran strike threat overtaken by events
10:17 a.m. Sep 07, 1998 Eastern

By Barry May

DUBAI, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The value of any Iranian strike against Afghanistan's ruling Taleban militia has been overtaken by events now that it seems likely Iran's missing diplomats are dead, analysts said on Monday.
Iran urged to set up Afghan militia to fight Taliban
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 11:31 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 7 (AFP) - An influential Iranian newspaper called on the government on Monday to set up a militia of Afghan refugees to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan and openly assist the anti-Taliban alliance.
Taliban threatens whole world: deposed Afghan president
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 11:16 GMT

ANKARA, Sept 7 (AFP) - Afghanistan's deposed president Burhanuddin Rabbani called here Monday for international measures against the country's Islamic Taliban movement, saying its advance threatens the whole world.
Pakistan urges "utmost" restraint by Iran, Afghanistan
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 11:54 GMT

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7 (AFP) - Pakistan on Monday called on Iran and Afghanistan to exercise the "utmost restraint" and to take steps to ease tensions along their border.
Iran moves away from military option towards Taliban
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 11:47 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 7 (AFP) - Iran appeared Monday to have backed away from the military option in its conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying it seeks a "prudent" solution to the crisis.
Iran to exercise "prudence" in dealing with Taliban
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 07:46 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 7 (AFP) - Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said Monday that Tehran would try to resolve "with prudence" a conflict with the Taliban over Iranian diplomats allegedly taken hostage by the Islamic militia in Afghanistan.
Saudi king urges Iran, Afghanistan to show restraint
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 15:51 GMT

RIYADH, Sept 7 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's King Fahd on Monday urged quarreling Iran and Afghanistan to restrain themselves and find a peaceful solution to their differences.
Saudi press calls for dialogue between Iran and Taliban
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 10:03 GMT

RIYADH, Sept 7 (AFP) - Saudi newspapers on Monday called for Iran and Afghanistan's Taliban militia to negotiate an end to their conflict, saying the Moslem world would be the loser if war erupted.
Iran "deeply worried" over reports diplomats killed in Afghanistan
Mon 07 Sep 98 - 09:07 GMT

TEHRAN, Sept 7 (AFP) - Iran said Monday it was "deeply worried" over growing reports that a group of Iranian diplomats and a journalist allegedly kidnapped in Afghanistan by the Taliban Islamic militia may have been killed.

Taleban offers Iran talks on missing nationals
09:25 a.m. Sep 07, 1998 Eastern

By Sayed Salahuddin

KABUL, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The Taleban movement said on Monday that the situation along its border with Iran was calm but its fighters remained on alert after recent tension and a huge Iranian military build-up.

Taliban launch move to seek recognition

ISLAMABAD: In a move to seek international recognition Afghanistan's dominant Taliban militia has approached the United Nations credential committee, Taliban's "permanent envoy-designate" to the United Nations said on Sunday.

Iran sources link SSP to deaths of Iranian diplomats

TEHRAN: Informed sources in Tehran disclosed on Sunday that Pakistani Sunni extremists were involved in the recent killings of Iranian diplomats in Afghanistan. "Sunni extremists belonging to the Sipah Sahaba of Pakistan (SSP), who

TNSM threatens to kidnap Americans

The News: Jang

PESHAWAR: A religious group, TNSM, on Sunday threatened to attack US property and kidnap Americans in Pakistan unless Washington apologises to the Muslim world for last month's missile strikes in Afghanistan.