January 31, 2000

Taliban number two arrives in Pakistan for important talks
Monday, January 31 7:01 PM SGT
ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (AFP) - The second most senior figure in Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime arrived here Monday for a two-day visit expected to focus on relations with Pakistan and the conflict in the war-torn state.

Taleban blast Egypt over easier divorces for women
KABUL, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban on Monday criticised Egypt's parliament for passing a law to make it easier for women to divorce.

Afghan frontier town leads minor economic boom
Tuesday, February 1 9:44 AM SGT
KHOST, Afghanistan, Feb 1 (AFP) - This southeastern Afghan border city, near where US cruise missiles slammed into an alleged terrorist camp in 1998, has been transformed from a dusty backwater into the centre of a small but badly needed
Taliban Leader: Won't Be Pressured By US Over Bin Laden
Tuesday, February 1 5:49 AM SGT
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP)--The president of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia vowed Monday not to be pressured by the U.S. to turn over accused terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Afghan opposition appeals to UN for relief assistance
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance has appealed to the United Nations to provide aid to those thousands of people who left their homes after Taliban attacked the area in the Northern Afghanistan.

Taliban Urges Help for Chechens
By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press Writer
Monday, Jan. 31, 2000; 2:58 p.m. EST
KABUL, Afghanistan –– Muslim nations should be ashamed for not helping Chechen militants in their fight against Russia, the Taliban's foreign minister said Monday, but refused to confirm reports that Afghan troops are fighting in Chechnya.

Protests against closure of Afghan border continue
MIRANSHAH (NNI): All markets remained closed on second day on Sunday in Miranshah to protest against sealing of the Afghan border by the authorities while the shopkeepers held protest demonstrations against Frontier Corps and local

Kharrazi discusses Afghanistan with Kazakh PM
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has laid stress on significance of the trans-regional gas and oil pipeline saying nobody could deny the importance of Iranian route for this project from security and economic point of view,

Ukraine releases list of missing soldiers in Afghan war
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The former Soviet republic of Ukraine has released names of its 72 soldiers who went missing in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion between 1979 and 1988.

Taleban opens up to media
By Kate Clark in Kabul
BBC
The Taleban authorities in Afghanistan have given permission for the American TV network, CNN, and the Arabic station, Al-Jazeera, to open bureaux in Kabul.

Pakistan Gen. Unveils Election Plan
The Associated Press
Monday, Jan. 31, 2000; 10:35 a.m. EST
NEW DELHI, India –– Pakistan may hold local elections this year but it will be at least two years before the nation will have an elected national government, its military ruler told Indian television.