February 28, 2000

Spring-time War and Peace Prospects in Afghanistan

As Taliban Prepare for Attack, Pakistani Media Blames Afghan Opposition
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON - February 28, 2000 - AAR - Unlike other political hot-spots around the globe, the melting of snow and the blossoming of trees in Afghanistan does not only mark the arrival of spring and the celebration of the traditional Afghan

Afghans from hijack will be allowed to stay in Britain
By Ian Burrell, Home Affairs Correspondent
The Independent
28 February 2000
Asylum-seekers from an Afghan jet that was hijacked and taken to Stansted airport this month will not be deported, despite the wishes of the Home Secretary, Jack Straw.

UK denies making decision on Afghan asylum-seekers
LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Britain on Monday denied a newspaper report that a decision had been made to allow 79 asylum-seekers from a hijacked Afghan airliner to stay.

uk to 'reject asylum' for afghan hijack passengers
london, feb. 27, irna -- almost all the remaining passengers on this month's hijacked afghan plane are to have their applications rejected within the next two days, according to the sunday telegraph. the weekly quoted a british government official saying

Britain to deport passengers of hijacked Afghan plane
LONDON (NNI): Almost all the 79 remaining passengers of the hijacked Afghan plane, which landed at a London airport earlier this month, are to be deported after their applications for asylum were found to be bogus.

RAWA welcomes closure of Afghan groups offices
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistans women human rights group Sunday welcomed government of Pakistans decision to close down offices of all Afghan parties including Taliban in the country.

Repatriation of Afghans to help improve law & order
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The presence of Afghans in Pakistan is one of the main reasons for communal clashes and disturbances, reports Radio Tehran.

PAKISTAN MAY ALLOW EXPORT BY LAND ROUTE TO KABUL
Monday, February 28, 2000 7:23 AM EST
PESHAWAR, Feb 28, 2000 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- The Federal government is considering allowing export to Afghanistan by land route from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) on experimental basis, Federal Finance Minister

2 anti-Taliban Afghans sue Japan over refugee screening
.c Kyodo News Service
OSAKA, Feb. 28 (Kyodo) - Two anti-Taliban Afghans filed a suit against the Japanese government on Monday demanding the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau nullify an earlier decision not to recognize the two men as political refugees, arguing

Pak official off to US to join OIC talks with Annan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A senior Pakistan diplomat Sunday left for New York to represent the country in an OIC delegation that will discuss with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Afghan ways to promote peaceful settlement of Afghan turmoil.

India, Saudi Arabia want to repair frayed ties
The Times of India News Service - 2/27/2000
NEW DELHI: After being unable to decide for years whether or not to be friends, India and Saudi Arabia now want to repair frayed ties. A two-day visit of Saudi assistant minister for foreign affairs Nizar Obaid Madani, beginning Monday, would be a