February 23, 2000

Afghanistan Drugs Worry Pakistan

By KATHY GANNON
.c The Associated Press
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Afghanistan is growing a record amount of drugs and that's bad news for Pakistan and the world, warned Pakistan's Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider on Wednesday.

Pakistan says countries should buy Afghan opium
.c Kyodo News Service
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 23 (Kyodo) - Pakistani Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider urged the international community Wednesday to buy opium produced in Afghanistan for medical use to help the war-torn country plant substitute crops.

China has not complained about Taliban: Pakistan
.c Kyodo News Service
ISLAMABAD, Feb. 23 (Kyodo) - Pakistan on Tuesday denied reports that China has asked Pakistan to use its influence with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement to curb the growing militancy in the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang Uygur Autonomou

UN drugs report points finger at Afghanistan's Taliban
Wednesday, February 23 5:01 PM SGT
VIENNA, Feb 23 (AFP) - The United Nations voiced grave concern Wednesday at Afghanistan's growing role as a key producer of illicit drugs in Asia which are smuggled around the world, calling on governments to act.

UN drugs agency slams Afghanistan, praises Iran
Wednesday, February 23 5:00 PM SGT
VIENNA, Feb 23 (AFP) - The United Nations' drug agency slammed Wednesday Afghanistan's record on fighting illicit drug production, while roundly praising Iran, which it said has made sacrifices for the global good.

Pakistan Min: Record Afghan Opium Production Is Bad News
Wednesday, February 23 4:47 PM SGT
ISLAMABAD (AP)--Afghanistan is growing a record amount of drugs and that's bad news for Pakistan and the world, warned Pakistan's Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider Wednesday.

Taliban denounces opposition "sabotage" campaign in Kabul
Wednesday, February 23 12:31 AM SGT
KABUL, Feb 22 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Tuesday denounced a wave of bomb attacks in the capital Kabul in recent days as a sabotage campaign mounted by the opposition alliance.

Iran eases Afghan repatriation
By regional analyst Pam O'Toole
BBC
The United Nations has signed an agreement with the Iranian Government that could see the repatriation of more than a third of the 1.4 million Afghan refugees living in Iran.

Pakistan urges world help for Afghan poppy control
ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Wednesday that the world should not walk away from record opium production in Afghanistan but help the war-torn country plant substitute crops.

Date, agenda for Chief Executive's visit to Afghanistan being worked out
BUSINESS RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (February 23) : Foreign Secretary Inamul Haq has said that agenda and date for a visit to Afghanistan by Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf was still being worked out. Speaking to newsmen he denied that General Musharraf

iran and un refugee agency plan return of 1.4 million afghans
vienna, united nations, feb. 23, irna -- iran and the united nations refugee agency have signed an agreement that aims to repatriate the 1.4 million afghan refugees in iran and end the forcible deportation of people who would be in danger if sent

president: afghanistan the biggest tragedy of the century
tehran, feb. 23, irna -- members of afghanistan's special committee in the organization of the islamic countries (oic) here tuesday met with iran's president and chairman of the oic seyed mohammad khatami to report on their accomplishments.

numbers of refugees may increase in asia
kuala lumpur, feb. 23, irna -- the number of displaced people throughout asia was likely to increase and their conditions worsen, unless drastic measures were taken, the united nation secretary general's representative on internally displaced person,

China conveyed no concern to Pakistan on Taliban: Haque
ISLAMABAD (NNI): China has conveyed no concern to Pakistan over Taliban policies and a press report in this regard are speculative, new Foreign Secretary Inamul Haque said Tuesday.

Britain opens first mission in Mecca
BY RICHARD BEESTON, DIPLOMATIC EDITOR
The Times (UK) / 2-23-2000
SAUDI ARABIA has agreed to allow a British diplomatic mission to Mecca this year, the first time that a predominantly Christian state has been granted official access to Islam's holiest shrine. After delicate negotiations, the Riyadh authorities will