July 23, 2000

Bomb explodes near Afghanistan's Information Ministry
ISLAMABAD, July 23 (Kyodo) - A bomb exploded near Afghanistan's Information Ministry in Kabul on Saturday night but there were no casualties, Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported.

Taleban ministry ponders proposal to lift TV ban
KABUL, July 23 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban, which has banned all forms of entertainment in a bid to forge a pure Moslem state, is mulling lifting a ban on television and use the medium to promote Islam, an official said on Sunday.

Taleban switches on to TV
The Taleban are keen to improve their image
By Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC
A proposal to set up a Taleban television station in Afghanistan is to be put to the leadership of the movement.
The idea was raised during a week-long seminar on the role of the media held by the Taleban Ministry of Information and

Putin warns G8 of "terrorist arc," Afghanistan
OKINAWA, July 23 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his partners in the Group of Eight nations on Sunday not to play the ostrich in the fight against international terrorism, much of which he said was emanating from Afghanistan.

Time to wake up to risks in our Afghan policy
Frontier Post (Pak.) - Editorial 7/22/2000
AFGHANISTAN, July 22, (Frontier Post) -- Agencies working for the United Nations humanitarian programs in Taliban-controlled parts of Afghanistan have harrowing reports about conditions in that war-ravaged land.

Taliban claim full control over eastern zone
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have claimed full control over the eastern provinces including Kunar bordering Pakistan.

Afghan opposition appeals for emergency aid to drought victims
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The anti-Taliban northern alliance has appealed for international aid to the drought stricken people of Afghanistan, reports VOA.

Daily comments on recent developments in Afghanistan
Tehran, July 23, IRNA -- Analyzing the recent developments in Afghanistan, `Kayhan International' Sunday charged the Taliban militia of not only having failed to bring about peace and stability in the

No one can control Afghanistan from outside
Islamabad, July 22, IRNA -- Former Afghan Foreign Minister and the emissary of ex-king Zahir Shah to Pakistan, Hidayat Amin Arsalah says 'no one can control Afghanistan from outside'.

316 more Afghan refugees repatriated from Isfahan Province
Isfahan, July 23, IRNA -- As part of the voluntary repatriation program for refugees, 316 Afghan refugees residing in this central province returned to their homeland on Sunday.

Taliban's ouster from Kabul this year: US envoy
WASHINGTON (NNI): Former US envoy to the anti-Soviet Afghan resistance Peter Tomsen has said that Afghanistan's ruling Taliban would be driven out of Kabul by the end of the year.