May 19, 2000

Afghans Discuss Peace Initiative During U.S. and U.N. Visits
Former Kingís Envoys Promote ìLoya Jirgaî Plan Amid Flurry of Activities
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON, May 18, 2000 - AAR - Two Afghan delegations are in the United States this week to promote the ìemergency Loya Jirgaî plan proposed by the former Afghan King, M. Zahir Shah, as a viable option to resolve the

U.S. tells Afghans it supports council idea
WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - The United States told eminent Afghans this week it supported a proposal to hold a ``loya jirga'' or Grand Council to bring peace to Afghanistan, the State Department said on Thursday.

US State Dept's Pickering to visit Pakistan, India
ISLAMABAD, May 19 (Reuters) - U.S. Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering will arrive in Islamabad next week for three days of talks expected to touch on terrorism and Pakistan's relations with arch-rival India, state media said on Friday.

Putin says Russia will protect Uzbekistan
By Shamil Baigin
TASHKENT, May 19 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek leader Islam Karimov pledged on Friday to fight together against religious extremism and terrorism in former Soviet Central Asia.

Putin in talks on terrorism in Uzbekistan
By Shamil Baigin
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin, met with great pomp by the leader of ex-Soviet Uzbekistan, began talks Thursday expected to be dominated by the issues of terrorism and religious extremism, officials said.

Russia's Putin meets Turkmen leader for gas talks
By Mike Collett-White
ASHGABAT, May 19 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Friday in the ex-Soviet state of Turkmenistan on the second leg of a two-day tour to try to consolidate Russian influence in the strategic Central Asian region.

ANALYSIS-Turkmens keep options open over gas plans
By Mike Collett-White
ASHGABAT, May 19 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov promised long ago to turn his impoverished desert nation into the next Kuwait by tapping and exporting vast reserves of natural gas.

Russia security accuses Saudi body of financing (adds)
MOSCOW, May 19 (Itar-Tass) - The Federal Security Service (FSB) press centre reported that Saudi-based international Islamic organisation Al-Haramein is financing Chechen guerrillas.

Pakistan-Taliban-Sanctions
Taliban Fear More Serious International Sanctions
Islamabad, May 18, IRNA -- A Pakistani newspaper on Thursday quoted an unspecified Taliban official as saying that the militia feared more strict international sanctions, in the days to come.

Pakistan - UN - Afghanistan
Military Build-up Hampering Repatriation of Afghan DPs: UN
Islamabad, May 18, IRNA -- The United Nations has regretted that military build-up in Afghanistan was hampering the process of epatriation of internally displaced people of Afghanistan.

Help to Afghan farmers sought to eliminate poppy
WASHINGTON (NNI): A former official of the USAID, who had worked in Afghanistan in 1970s, says that the farmers would totally give up poppy cultivation if they are extended aid.