July 27, 2000

Taliban Arrest 2 in Afghan Bombings
By AMIR SHAH
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Taliban troops arrested two men in connection with a series of bombings in the ruined Afghan capital in recent weeks, officials said Wednesday.

Taleban arrest two bomb suspects
KABUL, July 25 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban said on Tuesday it had arrested two followers of opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood for carrying out six bombings in the capital Kabul this month.

More bomb blasts in Kabul
By Kate Clarke in Kabul - BBC 7/25
The Taleban deputy interior minister has said they are not concerned about the spate of bombs which has hit Afghan capital Kabul.
There have been five explosions in just two weeks, with two of them taking place on Tuesday.

Taleban says wants proof to extradite Pakistanis
KABUL, July 26 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban said on Wednesday it would extradite Pakistani nationals wanted by Islamabad if given evidence against them.

China calls for broad-based Afghan govt:
By Tahir Khan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): China on Tuesday called for the formation of a abroad based government in Afghanistan acceptable to all parties to the conflict as well as endorsed by the international community.

Taliban envoy meets Chinese Foreign Ministry official
Islamabad, July 25, IRNA -- Taliban's Ambassador to Pakistan, Sai Mohammad Haqqani on Tuesday met Deputy Director of the Asian epartment of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Sun Guoxiang, in Islamabad.

Afghan Foreign Minister Fails to Meet Tang
ISLAMABAD, Jul 25, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel sought a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan during the latter's stay in Pakistan, a report said Tuesday.

Taliban threatens to strike back at Shanghai Five tit for tat
TOKYO, July 26 (Itar-Tass) - The Taliban movement which controls most of Afghanistan has threatened that it will respond "tit for tat" to the activities of the Group of Shanghai Five, which includes Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, China, Russia and Tajikistan.

Taliban's claim about commander's defection rejected
Islamabad, July 25, IRNA -- The Eastern Council of Afghanistan has rejected the claim of Taliban that commander Kashmir Khan of Kunar province has defected to them.

Afghan opposition commanders at daggers dawn
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Scores of people have been killed and wounded during infighting in the opposition held area in northern Afghan province of Takhar, reports Bakhtar news agency.

Ex-Pakistani General defends Shariati
Islamabad, July 25, IRNA -Defending General Shariati, who was recently arrested by Pakistan police, a former Pakistani General said the only sin of Shariati was that he wanted peace in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's emerald heights
The gem-studded mountains are a pot of gold for anti-Taliban forces
Lucian Kim - Special to The Christian Science Monitor
KAMARE SAFED VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN
Explosions rock this high mountain valley as puffs of smoke rise above the craggy peaks. Fifteen years ago, the blasts could have come from Soviet jets targeting mujahideen hideouts. Today the quarry is emeralds.