March 5, 2000

Afghan opposition claims key position
Anti-Taleban forces forces in Afghanistan say they have recaptured the strategically significant town of Sher Khan Bandar, on the border with Tajikistan.

Fresh push for Afghan peace
BBC
Talks aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan are to begin on Monday at the instigation of Muslim nations.

70 die in Afghan measles epidemic
There are reports of a serious measles outbreak in northern Afghanistan blamed on the failure to vaccinate children.

Afghan Taliban Team Arrives for Talks in Pakistan
Sunday, March 05, 2000 8:06 AM EST
ISLAMABAD (March 5) XINHUA - A Taliban team arrived here on Sunday for talks with visiting Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Boris Shikhmuradov on regional and bilateral issues, Afghan sources said here.

Taliban deny existence of terrorist training camp in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have once again strongly denied the existence of terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.

OIC team on Afghanistan discusses peace process
ISLAMABAD (NNI): An OIC Committee on Afghanistan, which launched fresh efforts for peace in Afghanistan last month, briefed representatives of Islamic countries in New York about their mission prior to proceeding to Saudi Arabia, diplomatic

Turkmen FM arrives for talks on Afghan issue, gas pipeline
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Boris Shikhmuradov arrived in Islamabad Saturday on three-day visit for talks on regional and bilateral issues, focussing on crisis in Afghanistan as well as proposed 2-billion-dollar gas pipeline

Taliban pay $10,000 to Britain as parking charges for hijacked plane
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have said they have paid nearly $ 10,000 to the British government as parking charges for the Afghan hijacked airliner.

UK treated us badly, say Afghan pilots
The Times of India
KABUL: The pilots of a hijacked Afghan passenger plane complained Saturday of nasty treatment at the hands of the British authorities. They called their attitude and behavior ``intolerable''.

Osama America's latest punching bag
By Kathy Gannon
The Times of India
JALALABAD: The passenger, indistinguishable from his fellows in beard, turban and baggy pants, was whisked through security at Jalalabad airport on the strength of a flimsy rectangle of cardboard.

Pakistan wants Afghan sanctions to go
The Times of India
WASHINGTON: Chief of Pakistan's anti-narcotics force has recommended lifting sanctions against the hard-line Taliban rulers of Afghanistan to help curb the region's pervasive drug trade.