February 24, 2000

India says Taleban sided with hijackers
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - India said on Thursday that Afghanistan's ruling Taleban was sympathetic to the hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane that was forced to land in the Afghan city of Kandahar last December.

Taliban Rulers Burn Hashish, Heroin
By AMIR SHAH c The Associated Press
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan's Taliban rulers burned thousands of pounds of hashish and heroin, and officials today rejected U.N. criticism that they have balked at cracking down on narcotics.

Iranian president calls for cooperation for peace in Afghanistan
Thursday, February 24 2:34 AM SGT
TEHRAN, Feb 23 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has called for multilateral cooperation to bring peace to Afghanistan, saying that the Afghan crisis was "one of the greatest tragedies of the century."

Asfandyar advises govt to get out of Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Opposing interference in Afghanistans internal affairs, President of Awami National Party, Asfandyar Wali Wednesday asked the government to get out of the war-torn country and allow Afghans to decide their future by

Foreign Secretary says Pakistan has no tremendous influence on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Foreign Secretary Inamul Haque Wednesday dispelled the impression that Pakistan enjoys tremendous influence in Afghanistan and that there was some nexus of Afghanistan with Kashmir freedom struggle.

Pakistan shuts Harkat-i-Islami offices
By Rahimullah Yusufzai - The News: Jang
PESHAWAR: The government has closed down the offices of an Afghan Shia group, Harkat-i-Islami, here following infighting in its ranks. Zaidullah Qayyumi, an official of the party, told The News that Pakistani authorities ordered closure of their office

Ailing Osama may hand over charge
The Hindustan Times -
OSAMA BIN Laden is reported to be considering handing over the control of his terrorist network to his closest deputy, 48-year-old Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

'Pak. ripe for Taliban-style revolution'
By Amit Baruah - The Hindu
ISLAMABAD, FEB. 23. A new book on the Taliban says that Pakistan provided $ 6 millions from its budget funds to the cash-strapped Afghan militia on June 28, 1998. In the financial year 1997-98, the book claims, the Taliban was provided