March 2, 1999

Talks with UN successful: Taliban ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban Monday described talks with the United Nations as highly successful saying the Islamic militia will provide full guarantee to the UN staff it they resume relief work in the war-ravaged country. UN peace envoy meets Afghan former president Tue 02 Mar 99 - 14:13 GMT
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, March 2 (AFP) - UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi held talks here Tuesday with Afghan former president Sibghatullah Mojaddedi as part of his efforts to forge peace in war-torn Afghanistan.

Taliban in a bind over Osama
By Suzanne Goldenberg
Dawn
KHAGREZ (Afghanistan): Hidden within the grey mountains that rise behind a hamlet of opium farmers lies a forgotten guerilla base that was the first port of call for Osama Bin Laden, when he returned to the life of a hunted
Afghans are the key players to resolve turmoil: Brahimi PESHAWAR (NNI): The UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi Monday said Afghans are the key player to resolve the long-standing imbroglio in their war-shattered country.

Only Afghans can bring peace: Brahimi
The Nation
PESHAWAR – The UN Special Envoy for Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi has said that only the Afghans themselves can help restore peace in their country through negotiated solution of all the problems. He
Taliban give forcible haircut to Kabul youth Tue 02 Mar 99 - 14:07 GMT
KABUL, March 2 (AFP) - Taliban soldiers here Tuesday forced some two dozen youths to get a haircut, while the religious police beat women for showing their ankles, witnesses said.

Afghan Taleban orders security purge in Kabul
11:53 a.m. Mar 02, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD, March 2 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban militia announced plans on Tuesday to purge its security agencies in the capital Kabul.
Anti-Taliban alliance claims capturing Dara-e-Soof ISLAMABAD (NNI): Anti-Taliban alliance Monday claimed capturing Dara-e-soof district in Samongan province from the Taliban, reports BBC.

Taliban reject opposition move
Dawn
ISLAMABAD, March 1: The Taliban said on Monday they were ready for talks with the opposition on cease-fire and a prisoner exchange, but rejected a move by its rivals to form a leadership council.
No deal for establishment of Afghan Mudaraba Bank in Pakistan: Taliban ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's Central Bank Monday said it has not struck deal with any Pakistani national for the setting up "Mudaraba Bank" in Peshawar.

Voice of America
INTRO: THE GENEVA-BASED WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE W-H-O, BELIEVES AN ILLNESS WHICH HAS INFECTED ABOUT TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE IN NORTHERN
WHO Blames Flu Bug For Afghan Illness BBC:The World Health Organisation says investigations into a mystery illness which killed at least one-hundred-and-ninety people in Afghanistan suggest it was caused by some sort of influenza virus.

UN to resume relief work in Afghanistan
Bureau Report
Dawn
PESHAWAR March 1: The United Nations relief workers are likely to resume their activities in selected towns of Afghanistan who had abandoned their operation following the killing of one of their workers a few months back,
Osama may target Sydney Olympics: FBI
Frontier Post
SYDNEY (AFP) - Alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden could target the 2000 Olympic Games because of Australia's close links to the United States, US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief Louis Freeh warned Monday.
Taliban term US human rights report as bias ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Monday strongly reacted to the US State Department report about human rights abuses by the student militia and said Taliban have establishment an Islamic government, which ensure rights to the citizens.

Brahimi in Kabu
The nation (Editorial)
A lot of diplomatic activity was recently undertaken to resolve the situation in Afghanistan but the progress made so far is less than what is really required. Mr Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN special envoy