January 25, 2000

Afghan tribes said to threaten Taleban with jihad
02:26 a.m. Jan 25, 2000 Eastern
By Scott McDonald
KABUL, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Tribal leaders in four Afghan provinces have threatened an uprising against the ruling Taleban over land they say was seized by local officials, residents from the areas said on Tuesday.

Taliban launch fresh offensive in N. Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have launched offensive in Sar-e-Pul province, breaking the comparative peace in northern Afghanistan, reports Radio Tehran.

Orthodox Afghan Taliban hold out olive branch to detractors
January 25, 2000
Web posted at: 11:31 a.m. HKT (0331 GMT)
CNN
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia said Monday it was committed to improving its record on terrorism, human rights and narcotics

US intensifies efforts to get Osama
By Our Correspondent
Dawn
NEW YORK, Jan 24: The United States has stepped up its efforts to get Osama bin Laden, the Saudi exile now living in Afghanistan, by filing court documents to corroborate its assertions that Mr Laden directed a worldwide "terrorism" conspiracy

Osama expulsion ruled out
Dawn
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakil on Monday indicated that Afghanistan had no intention to expel Osama bin Laden.

Russia condemns Afghanistan over Chechnya
Russia has condemned the recognition of an independent Chechen state by the Taleban authorities in Afghanistan.

Taliban involvement in hijacking known to all: Fernandes
NEW DELHI (NNI): Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes Monday said that the Afghanistan ruling Taliban were very much involved with Pakistan in the year-end hijack of the Indian Airlines plane.

Sattar pushes for Afghan peace talks
Mutawakkil renews support to Chechnya, desires warm ties with Iran, calls for Kashmir settlement
Frontier Post
From SIKANDER HAYAT
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Monday impressed upon the Taliban leadership the imperative of resuming negotiations with the Northern Alliance, particularly by securing greater involvement of Iran in the peace process.

Taleban to welcome Pak-Iran efforts for return of peace
RECORDER REPORT
Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD (January 25) : The visiting Afghan foreign minister, Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil, has said that Taleban will welcome joint or individual efforts by Pakistan and Iran to resolve the Afghan problem.

Pakistan-backed terrorists behind Indian jet's hijacking, U.S. says
General has rejected administration requests to ban group, pressure Taliban
The Dallas Morning News
01/25/2000
By Jane Perlez / New York Times News Service
WASHINGTON - The United States now believes that a terrorist group supported by the Pakistani military was responsible for the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet last month, Clinton administration officials said.

No Pakistani link to hijacking: Nepalese sources
Dawn
KATHMANDU, Jan 24: An investigation into the hijacking of an Indian Airlines jet from here on Christmas Eve has found no evidence to back allegations the Pakistani secret service was involved, Nepalese sources close to the inquiry said on Monday.

Balochistan taking steps to ensure supply of flour at fixed rates, check smuggling to Afghanistan
Business Recorder
RECORDER REPORT
QUETTA (January 25) : Balochistan government have taken necessary steps to maintain constant supply of wheat flour to the consumers at the prescribed prices.

Afghanistan for Kashmir solution under UN
The Nation
ISLAMABAD - While announcing full diplomatic support for the Chechen Muslims the Afghan Foreign Minister, Maulvi Wakil Ahmad Mutawakil, said on Monday that the Taliban Government has extended diplomatic

Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss drugs trafficking
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and visiting Afghan Foreign Minister, Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel Monday discussed matters relating to transit trade, cross-border smuggling and narcotics trafficking as well as ways and means

ISI offered money to MQM, claims Altaf
Frontier Post Bureau Report
KARACHI __ Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has claimed that a portion of Rs 140 million distributed amongst leaders of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was also brought to Nine Zero

Assistance for Afghanistan WEEKLY UPDATE Issue No.347
25 January 2000
Office of the UN Coordinator for Afghanistan, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Funding
The government of Denmark has contributed $347,500 to the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan.
The Department for International Development (DFID) has given a grant of £700,000 for UN and NGO refugee assistance

Taliban seek exclusion of US, Russia from UN body on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban Monday called for the exclusion of the United States and Russia from the UN group on Afghanistan and inclusion of Afghanistan in the 8-member body.