March 1, 2000

Afghan Taleban, foes engage in heavy fighting
By Sayed Salahuddin
KHAIR KHANA PASS, Afghanistan, March 1 (Reuters) - Taleban and opposition troops clashed north of Kabul and on the border with Tajikistan on Wednesday in the heaviest Afghan fighting in seven months, witnesses and western sources said.

Afghanistan's Taliban, rival group resume fighting
.c Kyodo News Service
ISLAMABAD, March 1 (Kyodo) - Fighting has resumed between forces of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban government and the rival Northern Alliance led by commander Ahmad Shah Masoud after several months of no hostilities, the Afghan Islamic

Britain to decide on Afghan hijack asylum seekers
LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - British Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Jack Straw will announce on Wednesday his verdict on 79 applications for asylum made by passengers of a hijacked Afghan airliner, a Home Office spokesman said.

Afghan asylum ruling expected - BBC
Many of the hostages lodged asylum bids
Home Secretary Jack Straw is set to announce whether passengers from the hijacked Afghan jet which landed at Stansted last month will be given asylum in the UK.

Pakistan renews support to UN peace efforts in Afghanistan
UNITED NATIONS (NNI) Pakistan has renewed support for United Nations peace efforts in Afghanistan and pledged to back peace efforts by the new UN envoy to Afghanistan.

Taliban reject US report on human rights
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have strongly criticized US State Department report about human rights situation in Afghanistan saying human rights situation has far more improved in Afghanistan.

Sweden wants representative govt in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Sweden wants a representative government in Afghanistan to end miseries of the people of the war-ravaged country, head of Swedish ODA mission on Afghanistan Peter Lundberg said Tuesday.

The other side of Afghan connection
By Mahdi Masud - DAWN (Pakistan) commentary - 03/01/2000
PAKISTAN's role in the Afghan war has been described in some Pakistani circles as the country's "greatest foreign policy triumph." It may have been a triumph in respect of diplomatic, security and ideological gains but proved a disaster for the