January 18, 2000

India hits out against Taliban support to Chechnya
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 (AFP) - India on Tuesday hit out at Afghanistan's Taliban militia for recognising the independence of Chechnya and said it was supporting Russia in its fight against Chechen rebels.

Moscow calls Afghan recognition of Chechnya "legally void"
MOSCOW, Jan 18 (AFP) - The Russian foreign ministry said Monday the recognition of Chechnya's independence by Afghanistan's Taliban regime was "legally void" and threatened to step up sanctions against Kabul.

Russia fears Talib influence will spread to Tajikistan
Tuesday, January 18, 2000 10:53 AM EST
MOSCOW, January 18 (Itar-Tass) - The Taliban movement of Afghanistan has re-identified its aggressive intentions by decision to recognize Chechnya as an independent state.

Taliban justify recognition to Chechen govt
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have said that it is the right of every independent and sovereign country that its government and rule be recognized. This is naturally their demand and an important moral achievement for the

Iranian teams visit to Afghanistan has no political motive: Tehran
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Iran has said that the two-member delegation of the Iranian Foreign Ministry to war-ravaged Afghanistan has no political motives.

Afghans abroad phone home
Tuesday, 18 January, 2000, 03:22 GMT
For the first time in seven years, people in Afghanistan can make international telephone calls using the country's own phone system.

Wedding ceremonies for freed cleric
By Shahid Malik in Lahore
BBC
Wedding ceremonies have been taking place for freed Muslim cleric Masood Azhar, released by India in return for hostages on board a hijacked Indian airliner in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Releases Millions Of Dollars Of Afghan Imports
Tuesday, January 18 6:25 PM SGT
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)--Four years after millions of dollars worth of goods destined for Afghanistan were confiscated in the southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan's military rulers released the merchandise, Afghanistan's Taliban's deputy trade

No More Waffling
Make Proxy War Costly for Pakistan
By M D NALAPAT
The Times of India (Editorial)
IF Pakistan is trapped in its ``hate India'' syndrome, so is New Delhi in its reflexive dismissal of all Pakistani demands. An example is General Pervez Musharraf's demand that India should address the root of the problem between the two countries --

UN Weekly Update for Afghanistan, issue no. 346
UNITED NATIONS
Assistant Secretary General for UNSMA
The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Francesc Vendrell as his Personal Representative and Head of the Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA), at the rank of Assistant Secretary-General. The appointment will take effect on 1 February.