March 1, 1999

Afghan rivals agree to U.N. proposal for talks
09:51 a.m. Mar 01, 1999 Eastern
KABUL, March 1 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban militia and its opponents announced their readiness on Monday to hold fresh U.N.-proposed talks betweem themselves to end fighting in the war-torn country.

Afghan mine threat still daunting, UN group says
11:22 a.m. Mar 01, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD, March 1 (Reuters) - As an international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines entered into force on Monday, a U.N. group said mines were still a daunting challenge in war-torn Afghanistan, killing and maiming innocent civilians.

Taliban assure full security to UN staff
Express readiness for ceasefire, swap of POWs; UN envoy to meet Afghan opposition in Peshawar today
The News: Jang
KABUL: Leaders of Afghanistan's Taliban militia on Sunday assured full safety and security for the United Nations staff if they returned to Kabul, UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said after talks here. "Today, they gave us very

Mystery Afghan illness likely flu-type virus - WHO
12:19 p.m. Mar 01, 1999 Eastern
GENEVA, March 1 (Reuters) - A mystery illness in Afghanistan that killed at least 190 people was probably a flu-like virus made deadly by poor living conditions and a lack of medicines, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.

Taliban for talks on truce, PoWs exchange
guarantee safety of United Nations staff
Frontier Post
KABUL (Agencies) - Taliban Sunday assured full safety and security for United Nations staff if they returned to Kabul, UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi said after talks with the hard-line militia leaders.

Taliban reject opposition move to form leadership council : report Mon 01 Mar 99 - 16:38 GMT
ISLAMABAD, March 1 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban militia Monday said it was ready for talks with the opposition on ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, but rejected a move by its rivals to form a leadership council.

Taliban rivals give Rabbani govt new boost
Frontier Post
By AIMAL KHAN
PESHAWAR - The Northern Alliance Saturday decided on electing two members from each of the six component parties for induction into the Burhanuddin Rabbani government as ministers.

The hunt for Bin Laden
The News: Jang (Opinion)
Rahimullah Yusufzai
Life goes on normally in Kandahar, headquarters of the puritanical Taliban Islamic Movement in Afghanistan and until recently the abode of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden. In recent years, Kandahar has become Afghanistan's de