January 21, 2000

Donkey caravan runs gauntlet to complete U.N. relief mission
Kyodo News Service
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 21 (Kyodo) - A caravan of 1,500 donkeys has run a gauntlet between rival Afghan guerrillas to get relief supplies to some 60,000 people in bitterly cold northern Afghanistan, a U.N. official said Friday.

Thousands of displaced Afghans get UN aid
ISLAMABAD, Jan 21 (AFP) - Thousands of Afghans displaced by fighting have received desperately needed relief supplies in Darra Souf valley in northern Samangan province in Afghanistan, a UN official said Friday.

Afghan Taliban offer all-out backing to Chechnya
KABUL, Jan 21 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Friday offered all-out support for Chechnya and said a Chechen embassy would open in Kabul within days.

Chechens To Open Afghan Embassy
By Amir Shah
Associated Press Writer
Friday, Jan. 21, 2000; 11:34 a.m. EST
KABUL, Afghanistan –– Chechen rebels will open an embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Taliban's Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil said Friday.

Tbilisi refutes Taliban mercenaries' sending via Georgia
Friday, January 21, 2000 9:42 AM EST
TBILISI, January 21 (Itar-Tass) - The Georgian Border Department describes as canard the press reports claiming that the Taliban leadership, Afghanistan, has sent about 200 mercenaries to Chechnya. According to the press reports, the mercenaries

Moscow 'loses' top general in Grozny assault
FROM GILES WHITTELL IN KERLA YURT
The Times (London)
A SENIOR Russian general is missing in action three days into a full-scale assault on Grozny in which Moscow planned to seize both the capital and the initiative in its stalled Chechen war.

Taleban discuss Chechnya with Pakistan
Business Recorder (Pakistan)
(Published under arrangement with Internews)
PESHAWAR (January 21) : Pakistan and Afghanistan have held talks to discuss the regional situation, the Taleban-controlled Radio Sharia reported on Wednesday. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Taleban-run Afghanistan Mulla Abdul

Whereabouts of Afghan commander not yet known
Frontier Post
PESHAWAR (PR) - The family of Afghan Commander Jamiatullah Khan alias Jalal who is missing since 1995 is still waiting his return or whereabouts. Jalal who came to the limelight in the Afghan Jihad, was the general secretary of Council for Unity

New Afghan envoy faces tough task
ISLAMABAD (NNI): United Nations Secretary Generals new envoy for the war-shattered Afghanistan faces may be the world most tough task to broker any peace deal to end the 20-year of Afghan conflict.

US senators warn Pakistan of deterioration in ties
WASHINGTON (NNI): Four US senators, who recently visited Pakistan, have warned against deterioration of Pak-US ties if Islamabad does not remove Washingtons concern over issues of terrorism, democracy, nuclear non-proliferation Islamic

Wheat sent to Kabul
DAWN
ISLAMABAD, Jan 20: A second consignment comprising 11 trucks of wheat and one truck of medicines is being dispatched to Kabul on Thursday.

Meeting held to generate funds for Afghan Varsity
Frontier Post
PESHAWAR (APP) - A high level meeting with commissioner Afghan Refugees Gulzar Khan in the chair was held here Thursday to explore ways and means for generating funds for Afghan university. The meeting was attended among others by

Taliban warn US against killing, arresting bin Laden
KABUL, Jan 21 (AFP) - The Taliban militia in Afghanistan has warned the United States of a serious reaction if terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden was killed or arrested, official Radio Shariat said Friday.

taliban say osama presence in afghanistan in us interest
islamabad, jan. 21, irna -- afghanistan's taliban militia has told the united states that presence of osama bin laden was in the best interest of washington because his followers would not try to endanger his position. 'osama's supporters will not act

Who is Masood Azhar?
The Friday Times
Vol XI, No. 46, Regd No. CPL-116
Jan 21-28, 2000
According to Khabrain, Maulana Masood Azhar, whose release was demanded by the hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane on 24 December, was a resident of Bahawlpur who was involved in the Kashmir Jehad movement. One of the hijackers was

Pakistani cleric freed in Indian hijacking leaves for Afghanistan
MULTAN, Pakistan, Jan 21 (AFP) - A Pakistani cleric who was freed from an Indian jail to end the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet has left for Afghanistan, his father Allah Bakhsh Sabir said Friday.

Is some rethinking of policy towards Afghanistan now needed?
The Rediff Special/ Salman Haider
January 20, 2000
The recent hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 by a group of criminals whose identity remains shadowy riveted the nation's attention for a week and the after-shock is still being felt. Every move of the aircraft, every step to secure the release of the