December 9, 2000

Fighting Raging in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia attacked an opposition stronghold in northern Samangan province on Saturday and advanced several miles, an opposition spokesman said.

UN Afghan envoy warns of backlash from new sanctions
By Stephanie Nebehay
GENEVA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's top U.N. official warned on Friday of a possible violent backlash if the Security Council imposes tighter sanctions on Taleban rulers to

Taleban intensifies contacts with Chechen separatists
MOSCOW, December 9 (Itar-Tass) - The Taleban leadership has been intensifying contacts with Chechen separatists, according to the date available at the apparatus of presidential aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky.

Taliban not to expel Osama from Afghanistan: Mutawakkil
Islamabad, December 09, IRNA -- The Foreign Minister of Taliban, Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil has categorically announced that Taliban would not expel Osama bin Laden.

Afghan Taliban deny suspects held in Yemen had links with bin Laden
KABUL, Dec 8 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban rulers on Friday rejected as fabrication reports that two people arrested in Yemen on suspicions of bombing a US warship had links with Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.

Pak press not optimisic about desired outcome of curbs on Taliban
Islamabad, Dec 9, IRNA -- In its editorial, titled "Misreading Afghanistan," one of Pakistan's English-language dailies, "The News" wrote on Saturday: "There is little appreciation of what might follow if the Taliban fall."

Conference in Turkmenistan discusses Afghanistan
ASHGABAT, December 9 (Itar-Tass) - A conference timed to the fifth anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutral status opened on Saturday in Turkmen capital Ashgabat. In his opening remarks

Afghan refugees stranded in no-man's land - BBC
The government of the Central Asian republic of Tajikistan is considering a request from the UN to admit about 10,000 Afghan refugees stranded on the border between the two countries.

Afghans celebrate first winter snow
Snow brings hope for an end to the drought
By Kate Clark in Kabul -BBC
The first snow of the winter began falling on the Afghan capital, Kabul, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

UNHCR moves thousands Afghans to new Pakistan camp
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The UN High Commission for Refugees has that 18,000 newly arrived Afghan refugees, who had fled to Pakistan to escape the war and drought there

Iran kills scores of drug bandits, frees hostages
TEHRAN, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Iranian troops killed scores of Afghan drug traffickers in a major ambush on Friday and freed 27 hostages held by the bandits, a senior police official said.

Landmine agencies close activities in Afghanistan - FP
PESHAWAR (Online) - Landmine sweeping agencies closed it operational activities in Afghanistan due to funds shortage and sent their staff on one month leave, Online has learnt reliably.

Pakistan, Taliban sign deal for purchase of wheat
Islamabad, Dec 8, IRNA -- Pakistani officials and Taliban's envoy in Islamabad on Friday signed an agreement, under which the militia will import 300,000 tons of wheat from Pakistan.

Corps Commanders Conference discusses geo-strategic environment
RAWALPINDI (NNI): A two-day Corps Commanders’ Conference presided over by Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf commenced at the General Headquarters here Friday.