March 10, 2000

Afghan Opposition Says It Repulsed Taliban Attack
ISLAMABAD (AP)--Afghanistan's northern-based opposition said it repulsed a major offensive Friday by the ruling Taliban Islamic militia, killing at least 60 Taliban soldiers.

UN report flays Taliban rights violations against women in Afghanistan
Thursday, March 9 11:53 PM SGT
GENEVA, March 9 (AFP) - A UN report accused the radical Islamic regime in Afghanistan Thursday of violating women's rights with "unabated severity," including mass abductions and forced prostitution.

Japan launches Afghan peace bid
Japan has launched the latest international initiative to try to end the long-running civil war in Afghanistan.
It's invited for indirect talks the Taleban movement, which controls most of Afghanistan, and the United Front,

Afghan peace talks to continue
Afghanistan: Attempts to find a solution will continue
by Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC
Talks to resolve the 20-year-old civil war in Afghanistan have ended with an agreement to meet again after the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha which is due next week.

OIC has no specific mechanism to solve Afghan crisis: Bakr
JEDDAH (NNI): Assistant Secretary General Organization of Islamic Conference Ibrahim Bakr has said that the OIC has no "specific mechanism or proposed solutions" to the Afghan problem and hoped that the Afghan factions would find out a

First Round of Afghan Peace Talks End Inconclusively
Taliban Insist on Recognition of Emirate and Emir
by Omar Samad
WASHINGTON - March 9, 2000 - (AAR) - The first round of peace talks sponsored by the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to resolve the Afghan conflict ended with no apparent breakthrough in Jeddah, Saudi

Afghan asylum seekers to appeal
Most still want to stay - BBC
More than 20 asylum seekers from last month's Stansted hijack are to appeal against the Home Secretary's decision to stop them staying in the UK.

US, India working against Jehad spirit: Beg
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Former army chief Gen (retd) Mirza Aslam Beg on Thursday said that the United States and India are working on an agenda of "jehad-free" order in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kashmir in the guise of struggle against terrorism.

Extraordinary security measures for Clinton visit
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The government has planned extraordinary security measures for the US President Bill Clintons daylong visit in cooperation with the American security personnel, sources said.

Sharif lawyer shot dead - BBC
Three people were killed when gunmen stormed the office
One of the main lawyers defending ousted Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif has been shot dead.