July 19, 2000

Zahir Shah team fails to win Pakistan support
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A visiting team of former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah has failed to win Pakistan support for the Rome-based frustrated move to convene 'Loya Jirga' (council of elders) to find out a 'peaceful settlement to the Afghan conflict' sources close to the Jirga said Tuesday.

Pakistan gives cautious nod to Afghan peace bid
By Raja Asghar
ISLAMABAD, July 18 (Reuters) - Pakistan, a key player in war-torn Afghanistan, on Tuesday gave a cautious blessing to a renewed peace bid by exiled Afghan ex-king Zahir Shah.

Afghan ex-monarch in peace moves - BBC - 7/18/00
ISLAMABAD, July 18 (BBC News) -- Afghanistan's former monarch, King Zahir Shah, has sent a delegation with a peace proposal to Islamabad, to meet both Pakistani and Taleban officials.

Pakistan praises ex-king's efforts for Afghan peace
ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - Pakistan on Tuesday lauded former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah's efforts for peace and reconciliation in war-ravaged Afghanistan, without openly backing them, officials said.

Taliban arrest scores of people in Nangarhar
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have arrested a number of people in eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar bordering Pakistan, reports Radio Tehran.

Pakistan's Pashtun policy in Afghanistan
The Nations
LAHORE-At a Press conference in Islamabad on May 25, Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf gave the clearest articulation to date of Pakistan's reasons for its continued backing of the Taliban. He said in view of the demographic and geographic pattern,

Pakistan seeks restoration of Durand Line's sanctity
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Federal Minister for Interior Lt. Gen. (Retd) Moin-ud-Din Haider Tuesday called upon the border security forces to restore the sanctity of the Durand line, that divide Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Taliban police chief sacked for shaving heads of Pakistanis
ISLAMABAD (NNI): An Afghan officer in charge of religious police who shaved the heads of 12 Pakistani footballers for wearing shorts has been sacked, reports the BBC.

UN launches emergency relief effort for "catastrophic" Afghan drought
ISLAMABAD, July 18 (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday launched an emergency relief operation to feed more than 1.6 million Afghans who are close to starvation because of the country's worst drought in 30 years.

Pakistan arrests former Afghan commander
The News: Jang - 7/18/00
PESHAWAR: A former Afghan commander and outspoken critic of Taliban has been arrested, following Taliban complaints about dissidents, police said here on Monday.

2.5 tons of opium seized
TEHRAN, July 18: The Iranian police intercepted a band of drug traffickers on Iran-Pakistan borders and seized 2.5 tons of opium, the daily Resalat said on Tuesday.

Turkmenistan, Pakistan to build Afghan highway
ISLAMABAD, July 18: Afghanistan's minister for public works and communication, Mulla Ahmedullah Mati says Pakistan and Turkmenistan have pledged to co-operate in the construction of Torghundi highway, reports Asia Pulse.In an interview with VOA

Outrageous - DAWN editorial 7/19/00
IN yet another fit of mediaeval zealotry, the Taliban in Afghanistan shaved off the heads of Pakistani football players invited from Chaman to Kandahar to play a series of matches. According to reports, five players managed to escape the barber's razor but not