August 18, 2000

Afghan Taleban allow bakeries for women to reopen
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Thursday allowed U.N.-funded bakeries for women to reopen, just days after ordering them shut as part of a religious ban on women working for foreign aid agencies.

Taleban backs down over bakeries
By Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC 8/18
The Taleban have reversed their decision to close the United Nations widows' bakeries in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

IOC rejects Taleban plea
By regional analyst Pam O'Toole - BBC 8/18
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has rejected an appeal by Afghanistan's Taleban movement to be allowed to send a team to the Sydney Olympics next month.

Address by H.E. Professor B. Rabbani, President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan on the Occasion of the Auspicious Day of Independence
(UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION)
In the Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
Afflicted fellow citizens, The enduring Mujahid nation of Afghanistan, Peace be unto you! I wish to congratulate you on the auspicious day of restoration of Independence of our homeland.

Afghan Taleban marks independence day Islamic way
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement, at war with opponents, marked the country's 81st independence anniversary on Friday in its own Islamic style, with an all-male celebration and calls for

Afghans display ancient stone
The Rabotak Stone inscription revealed
KABUL, Aug 17 (BBC News) - The national museum of Afghanistan has reopened for the first time in a decade and features a major new exhibit feared lost in the civil war.

Looted Kabul museum has first visitors in eight years
KABUL, Aug 17 (AFP) - For the first time in eight years, the looted Kabul museum Thursday invited a group of visitors to see a collection of its few remaining pieces and recovered stolen property.

Afghan factions swap senior prisoners
KABUL, Aug 17 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia and their opponents Thursday swapped two prisoners of war across the front lines north of here, official sources said.

Afghan factions swap senior PoWs
The News: Jang
KABUL: Taliban and their opponents on Thursday swapped two prisoners of war across the front lines north of here, official sources said.

13 Taliban killed in fresh fighting
Frontier post
PESHAWAR - Heavy casualties were reported in the fresh fierce fighting between the forces of Taliban and resistance forces to capture Samangan on Thursday. Thirteen taliban were killed, an important commander of Northern Alliance

The Afghan imbroglio
DAWN - Editorial - 8/17
AS the fighting in Afghanistan gains new momentum, the peace moves are also being stepped up. But that hardly means that the tragedy of the Afghans is about to end - whether through the barrel of the gun on the battlefield

Iran arrests more than 100 illegal Afghan immigrants
TEHRAN, Aug 17 (AFP) - Iranian police arrested 120 Afghan nationals in the eastern province of Zahedan who had entered the country illegally, press reports said Thursday.

Saudi aid for Afghan drought victims
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Saudi Arabia has sent some 80 tonnes of relief goods for the drought victims of Afghanistan.

Pakistani disowns son for helping US to nab bin Laden
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (AFP) - A Pakistani has disowned his son for assisting the US to capture wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden, a newspaper reported Thursday.

No trace of mysterious objects
By Saleem Shahid - DAWN
QUETTA, Aug 16: A massive search was carried out in the districts of Loralai, Barkan, Kohlu and the adjoining areas to find out any evidence of the unidentified objects, presumably missiles, by the officials and the people on

Taliban blamed for 'world's worst' rights situation
The Times of India
GENEVA: Afghanistan's hardline Taliban rulers have created the world's worst human rights situation, the representative of an Afghan women's organization said Thursday.