March 9, 2000

OIC fails to convince Taliban for unconditional talks with opposition
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Organization of Islamic Conference, OIC has failed to seek assurance from the Taliban to hold unconditional talks with the opposition northern alliance.

Annan denies reluctance to tackle Afghan issue
UNITED NATIONS (NNI): Secretary General Kofi Annan has denied any reluctance on his part to address the lingering issue of ethnic strife in Afghanistan.

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

Gov't officials to meet with rival Afghan groups in Tokyo
.c Kyodo News Service
TOKYO, March 9 (Kyodo) - Japan has invited representatives of all major rival groups in Afghanistan to visit Tokyo in a bid to secure their cooperation on achieving a sustainable peace in the war-torn nation, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Afghan women urge world leaders to help end civil war
Frontier Post By SYED BUKHAR SHAH
PESHAWAR - The Afghan Women Council (AWC), on the eve of International Women Day, has sent separate messages to the US president, UN secretary-general, OIC, president of Iran, King Fahad Khadem Al Haramain Sharifain, and Chief

Statement by the Spokesperson on the occasion of the International Women's
Day, 8th March
The Islamic State of Afghanistan, rejoicing at observance of the International Women's Day, should like to congratulate the women and girls of Afghanistan and of the world on the occasion.

Women's Day first for fundamentalists
AGENCIES in Kabul - South China Morning Post
Under tight security, Afghanistan's Islamic fundamentalist Taleban marked International Women's Day yesterday for the first time since they took power nearly four years ago.

Afghanistan's Girls Fight to Read and Write
By BARRY BEARAK - The New York Times
March 9, 2000
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Her name is Fatima, and she was risking a beating. Defiantly, she stood outside, talking to a man. Her face was uncovered.

The Paradox of Poppy
'Anti-Drug' Afghan Rulers, Poor Farmers Reap Opium's Profits
By Pamela Constable Washington Post Foreign Service Thursday, March 9, 2000
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan—As clouds of acrid smoke billowed into the air and an Islamic cleric chanted verses from the Koran, nearly 10,000 pounds of confiscated hashish and 800 pounds of heroin went up in flames surrounded by banners that