April 27, 2000

Drought hits southern Afghanistan
Farming has completely collapsed in southern Afghanistan
By Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC
The World Food Programme says large parts of southern Afghanistan have been severely affected by drought and 60-80% of livestock have died.

APPEAL FOR EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO DROUGHT VICTIMS IN AFGHANISTAN
A protracted drought has resulted in bringing thousands of people on the brink of famine and starvation in vast parts of Afghanistan.

Pakistan says U.S. hints at bin Laden evidence
KARACHI, April 27 (Reuters) - The United States has indicated that it would provide evidence to Pakistan about Saudi exile Osama bin Laden's alleged involvement in terrorism, a spokesman for Pakistan's military-led government said on Thursday.

Kharazi, Annan discus Afghan conflict
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan discussed Afghan conflict and drug trafficking, reports Radio Tehran.

Government, bara markets traders ready for showdown
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Bicycle tyre tubes from China, electronics from Japan and canned food from Europe. Those are just some of the products on sale at any one of up to 5,000 shops at the Hayatabad market outside Peshawar, near the Afghan

Finish parliamentary delegation meets Taliban Minister
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A 6-member Finish parliamentary delegation called on the Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel in Kabul.

Pakistan wants ``uneven'' playing field for South
By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, April 27 (Reuters) - Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday an even playing field envisioned in a globalised economy should be made ``uneven'' to favour the so-called South, or developing countries.

Iran hits out at U.S. Caspian policy
By Mike Collett-White
ALMATY, April 27 (Reuters) - Iran issued a thinly veiled warning to the United States on Thursday that its attempts to direct the flow of energy from the Caspian so as to bypass Iran and Russia threatened to destabilise an already volatile region.

Five Pakistanis detained near Chechnya
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Five Pakistanis have been detained in Russia as they illegally crossed the border from Azerbaijan, reports The Hindu on Wednesday quoting Russian security officials.

How the Taliban Got Their Way in Afghanistan
The New York Times
BOOKS OF THE TIMES-Book Review By RICHARD BERNSTEIN - April 26, 2000
Ahmed Rashid's new book, "Taliban," begins with a concise history of the rise to prominence of the Taliban, the fundamentalist Muslim group that seems to have come from nowhere to control 90 percent of Afghanistan. "Seem" is the key word, because