April 2, 2000

Afghan opposition leader speaks out
The veteran Afghan commander, Ismail Khan, who escaped from a Taleban prison in Kandahar last week, has spoken publicly for the first time since he got free.

Pak-Iran talks on Afghanistan next week
ISLAMABAD (Online) - Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsin Aminzadeh arrives here next week for high level talks with Pakistani officials on bilateral relations and regional issues including Afghanistan.

Kazakhs say Albright visit shows security concerns
ALMATY, April 1 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Saturday that the forthcoming visit to central Asia by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was proof of Washington's interest in tackling regional security problems.

Ukraine offers help in Afghan demining
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, April 1 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian official seeking help locating 72 soldiers who vanished in Afghanistan 20 years ago on Saturday offered maps showing where landmines were laid and technical aid for Afghan landmine victims.

Turkmenistan steps up crackdown on religious freedom
ASHGABAD, April 2 (AFP) - Pavel Fedotov will never forget the day Turkmen security forces surrounded his church with its parishioners still inside and ordered a bulldozer to demolish the structure.

More heroin on the way
By BRENDAN NICHOLSON Sunday 2 April 2000
The world's biggest opium poppy crop will be harvested in Afghanistan next month, putting cheap and pure heroin on the streets of Western cities.

No takers for General Musharraf
Seema Guha - Times of India
NEW DELHI: Democracy is in. Military rulers are out. General Pervez Musharraf may be acceptable to the Pakistan public, but the world at large is unhappy with army rule. Musharraf may try to hide behind the camouflaged corporate designation of