December 2, 1999

United States Government Welcomes Afghan Loya Jirga Initiative
By Omar Samad

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1999 - AAR - For the second time in recent months, the U.S. Department of State commented on the former King of Afghanistan's peace initiative, which calls for ending the continued conflict in Afghanistan by convening an

Second Afghan Peace Movement Calls for "Coordinated Efforts"
Working Group Meets in Tehran and Drafts Action Plan
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1999 - AAR - A second Afghan peace movement - commonly known as the "Cyprus process" - held an executive committee-level meeting late last week in Tehran, Iran, to discuss ways to reach a political settlement of the

U.N. to send aid to Afghan valley by weekend
10:01 a.m. Dec 01, 1999 Eastern
KABUL, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Wednesday it expected to send emergency aid supplies for tens of thousands of displaced Afghans who sought refuge in the opposition-held Panjsher valley north of Kabul by the weekend.

U.N. Sees No Afghan Child Soldiers
By Amir Shah
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999; 1:22 p.m. EST
KABUL, Afghanistan –– A senior U.N. official who was escorted to the front line in Afghanistan on Wednesday said he saw no evidence that children are being used as soldiers in the Taliban's war against northern-based opponents.

FOCUS-U.N. says finds no Afghan ``child warriors''
09:40 a.m. Dec 01, 1999 Eastern
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL, Dec 1 (Reuters) - A senior U.N. official, challenged by the Taleban to find child warriors in its ranks, said on Wednesday that he found no children fighting for the Islamic militia in a brief visit to a frontline near Kabul.

Hezb-e-Wahdat supports Zahir Shah peace move
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Hezb-e-Wahdat (Khalili) has supported peace initiative of the former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah for convening a Loya Jirga (grand assembly) inside Afghanistan.

The Taleban's treatment of women
INTRO:  The Taleban's treatment of women in Afghanistan was the subject of an impassioned debate in New York today (Wednesday). Correspondent Barbara Schoetzau reports.

Afghanistan unaffected by UN sanctions
KABUL (NNI): If the United Nations intended to punish the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan through its sanctions imposed since November 14, the plan seems to have failed. The sanctions, imposed to force the radical Islamic movement to surrende

UN obstructing Pak-Turkmen gas pipeline project: Taliban
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have accused the United Nations of blocking Pak-Turkmen gas pipeline project.

Iran accuses Taliban of terrorism
United Nations (NNI): Permanent representative of Iran to the United Nations Hadi Nejad-Husseinian has said the problem of Taliban's extremism and terrorism is definitely a factor causing instability in the region saying the issue should be decisivel

Iranian diplomat discusses Afghan issue with Sherpao
PESHAWAR (NNI): The Iranian Consular General in Peshawar Fateh Muhammad Ali met the former NWFP Chief Minister and a PPP leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Wednesday.