March 9, 1999

Taliban, opposition in Turkmenistan for peace talks
Tue 09 Mar 99 - 15:23 GMT
ASHGABAD, March 9 (AFP) - Taliban officials and representatives of the Afghan opposition arrived here Tuesday for extended peace talks, Turkmenistan's foreign ministry said.
U.S. Says bin Laden in Afghanistan
By Laura Myers
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, March 9, 1999; 6:41 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States thinks suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden is still in Afghanistan, despite Afghan leaders' ``risky and unwise'' assertion that he left, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.
Taliban ready to discuss all issues with rivals at Ashkabad: report Tue 09 Mar 99 - 09:03 GMT
ISLAMABAD, March 9 (AFP) - A Taliban delegation headed for Turkmenistan Tuesday for talks with the opposition, saying it was ready to discuss all issues, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.

Afghan Taleban sending team to peace talks
06:49 a.m. Mar 09, 1999 Eastern
ISLAMABAD, March 9 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taleban Islamic militia said on Tuesday it was sending a three-man team to Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat to attend U.N.-brokered peace talks with the opposition alliance beginning on Wednesday.
Taliban retake Dara-e-Soof district TEHRAN (NNI): Taliban Monday succeeded in recapturing strategic Dara-e-Soof district in Samangon province from Ahmed Shah Masood forces, reports Radio Tehran.

Fourteen commanders join Taliban, claims Radio Kabul
The News: Jang
ISLAMABAD: Fourteen opposition commanders alongwith their men have decided to support the Taliban Islamic government in Afghanistan, reports "Radio Kabul" on Monday. According to the report, 14 opposition commanders
Kabul citizens endure night curfew for 21 years Tue 09 Mar 99 - 01:41 GMT
KABUL, March 9 (AFP) - After 21 years living under a night curfew, Kabul residents now wryly say it no longer bothers them as the days have become as colourless as the nights.
Ghinwa appreciates RAWA struggle for Afghan women KARACHI (NNI): Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party (SB), Ghinwa Bhutto has congratulated the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) for their courageous struggle against the reactionary forces who are trying to stop the rightful emancipation of Afghanistan.

RAWA accuses govt of meddling in Afghan affairs
The News: Jang
By Ayesha Shaheen
PESHAWAR: Accusing the Pakistan government of meddling in the affairs of Afghanistan, speakers at an International Women's Day function here on Monday demanded that the Afghans should be left on their own to work
Rabbani for broad based political front in Afghanistan TEHRAN (NNI): The deposed Afghan President, Burhanuddin Rabbani Monday called for the formation of a broad based political front in the war-ravaged Afghanistan, reports Radio Tehran.

Iran desirous of negotiated settlement to Afghan conflict
TEHRAN (NNI): Iran Monday said it is seriously pursuing the policy to help resolve the Afghan conflict and find a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict, reports Radio Tehran.
Turkmenistan, Pakistan sign power line agreement
05:53 a.m. Mar 09, 1999 Eastern
ASHGABAT, March 9 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan and Pakistan signed a memorandum of intention last week to build a line to transmit surplus Turkmen electricity through Afghanistan, an energy and industry ministry spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.
The way out for Taliban
Abid Ullah Jan
Frontier Post (Article)
On the occasion of crucial talks between the Taliban and their rival Northern Alliance, due to begin tomorrow in Ashgabad, demands for a broad-based government in Afghanistan sound quite fair at the surface. However, reality of and motives