August 3, 1999

100,000 flee as Taliban advance north
KABUL, Aug 3 (AFP) - At least 100,000 civilians have fled the advancing Taliban causing a widespread refugee crisis, as the Islamic militia Tuesday pressed north towards the Salang Tunnel.

Afghan Civilians Flee to Kabul
By Amir Shah
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 3, 1999; 8:36 a.m. EDT
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Thousands of civilians poured into the capital of Kabul today, fleeing fighting in a northern province just captured by Taliban militiamen.

Taleban forces push north
BBC
Fighting has broken out north of the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan, as Taleban forces continue to press forward in their campaign against opposition forces.

PRESS RELEASE
August 2, 1999
APPEAL FOR EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR THE SUVIVORS OF THE LATEST KILLING FRENZY BY THE TALIBAN MERCENARIES IN AFGHANISTAN

Taliban Kills, Cuts Key Supply Line
By Amir Shah
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, August 3, 1999; 3:15 p.m. EDT
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The ruling Taliban militia cut a key supply line used by opposition forces and killed at least 25 rival militiamen today, Taliban-controlled radio reported.

Urgent Aid Sought For 250,000 Fleeing Afghans
05:37 a.m. Aug 03, 1999 Eastern
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL (Reuters) - Opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood Tuesday urged the world to help a quarter of a million Afghans he said had fled Taliban troops closing in on his Panjsher valley bastion.

Taliban Push Offensive Into Opposition Territory
02:40 a.m. Aug 03, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban has pushed further into opposition territory and captured another town in its latest offensive aimed at gaining total domination of the country, a Pakistan-based Afghan news service reported Tuesday.

Afghan Taliban posed for final push after stunning victories
KABUL, Aug 3 (AFP) - Within a week of launching its summer offensive Afghanistan's Taliban have forced opposition troops into a humiliating retreat and are poised for a tilt at the final prize, the Panjsher Valley.

Taliban Capture Important District in Northern Afghanistan
Tuesday, August 03, 1999 10:01 AM EST
ISLAMABAD (Aug. 3) XINHUA - Afghanistan's Taliban militia Tuesday captured a key district of Imam Sahib in northern Kunduz province in their latest offensive against the beleaguered opposition forces, news reaching here said.

Taliban Capture Port Bordering Tajikistan
Tuesday, August 03, 1999 7:23 AM EST
ISLAMABAD (Aug. 3) XINHUA - Afghan Taliban militia have captured Sher Khan Bandar port at Ammu river on the border with Tajikistan in a latest offensive against the Northern Alliance forces, the Afghan Islamic Press

Voice of America
INTRO: An Afghan news agency says Afghanistan's Taleban movement has pushed its forces to the mouth of
the opposition's stronghold as fighting continues in the country. As Sarah Horner reports from Islamabad, the

Masood's forces retreat to Panjsher valley
The News: Jang
August 3, 1999
By Rahimullah Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: The way was cleared for Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to take control of the areas held by former defence minister Ahmad Shah Masood in Shomali plains north of Kabul Tuesday when the latter's

Opposition claims killing 165 Taliban
TEHRAN (NNI): Afghan opposition has claimed killing at least 165 Taliban including four prominent commanders and injuring 380 others.

Afghan Taleban leader says bin Laden no terrorist
12:19 p.m. Aug 03, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The Afghan Taleban's supreme ruler denied on Tuesday U.S. charges that Osama bin Laden, one of America's top 10 most wanted men, was a terrorist.

Russia resolutely opposes escalation of war in Afghanistan
Tuesday, August 03, 1999 9:40 AM EST
MOSCOW, August 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russia resolutely opposes the escalation of combat operations in Afghanistan and denounces the course of the leadership of the Taliban movement for settling the Afghan problem by force,

Afghan opposition admits losing ground north of Kabul
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The spokesman of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, Dr. Abdullah has admitted losing grounds to the Taliban in north of Kabul.

No proposal to open LoC: FO spokesman Pakistan has no troops in Afghanistan: FO
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Pakistan on Monday strongly rebutted reports suggesting that it has received some formula from Washington to open the LoC to allow free movement of Kashmiris across it.

U.S. Protests Against 'Death' Threats In Pakistan
08:16 a.m. Aug 03, 1999 Eastern
By Andrew Hill

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - The United States Tuesday protested to a Pakistani Islamic leader who threatened a ``war against Americans'' if Washington launched another

Taliban complain to UN about Iran, Tajikistan's interference
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have complained to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, about the interference of Iran and Tajikistan in Afghanistan by providing military assistance to their opponents.

Iran denies interference in Afghanistan
PESHAWAR (NNI): The Iranian Consulate has denied press reports about violation of Afghanistan's border by the Iranian forces.

Taliban sign wheat import accord with Kazakhstan
KABUL (NNI): Taliban have signed an agreement with Kazakhstan for the purchase of 60,000 tones of wheat and 8000 tones of wheat has already been imported to Herat.

Taliban's offensive
The News: Jang (Editorial)
For weeks a major new military offensive in Afghanistan by the ruling Taliban movement appeared imminent. Now the Taliban juggernaut is rolling with reports of its capture of the key town of Jabul Seraj

Three tracks for Kabul peace
Adil Zareef
The News: Jang (Opinion)
If Lakhdar Brahimi's last UN-sponsored initiative at Ashkabad was considered a doomed enterprise, Afrasiab Khattak, the chairman of HRCP, has termed the recently concluded Six-plus-Two Tashkent talks