August 13, 2000

Afghan Taleban gains ground in renewed fighting, opposition
Aug 13 2000 9:30AM ET
KABUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - After several days of lull, fierce clashes broke out in northern Afghanistan on Sunday between the forces of the ruling Taleban movement and its opponents near a key opposition base close to the border with Tajikistan.

Northern Afghan Fighting Rages
Sunday, August 13 8:13 PM SGT
By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Heavy fighting raged in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province Sunday as the country's ruling Taliban militia advanced toward the opposition stronghold of Taloqan, an opposition spokesman said.

Taliban come under fierce attack
Dawn
KABUL, Aug 12: Fighting has again flared up in Afghanistan's northeastern Takhar province, with the opposition saying on Saturday their forces had carried out lightning counter-attacks against the Taliban.

Five Taliban commanders among 150 killed: Opposition
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Afghan opposition has claimed that five Taliban commanders are among 150 Taliban fighters who have been killed in the recent fighting in the northern Takhar province, an opposition statement has said.

UN special envoy to Afghanistan arrives in Tehran
TEHRAN (NNI): The United Nations special envoy to Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell arrived here on Saturday to exchange views with Iranian diplomats.

Taleban ban communal bathing
BBC News
The ruling Taleban authorities in Afghanistan have closed all the communal bathhouses for men in the capital, Kabul.

Refugee surge from Afghan fighting
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The opposition alliance, fighting the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, has said that recent fighting in the region has forced at least 100,000 people to flee their homes.

Soccer stretches Taleban rules
By Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC 8/12/00
Under Taleban rule, most fun is banned. Music, dancing, cinema, art, television and are all illegal.
Without music, weddings are tedious. Even picnics - the national Afghan pastime - have been reduced to dull, all-male affairs.