May 23, 2000

Afghan Taleban advance on opposition -- agency
ISLAMABAD, May 23 (Reuters) - The ruling Afghan Taleban movement seized a key area from the northern opposition alliance after two days of heavy fighting, an Afghan news service said on Tuesday.

Top Kremlin aide defiant about threat of air strikes in Afghanistan
MOSCOW, May 23 (AFP) - A top presidential aide refused to back down on Tuesday over his warning that Moscow could strike Chechen guerrilla training camps in Afghanistan, despite sharp criticism from opposition deputies.

Taleban deny charges of aiding Chechen rebels
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL, May 23 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement on Tuesday denied Russian charges that it backed and trained Islamic militants in the breakaway republic of Chechnya.

Bin Laden, Taliban offer Chechen rebels help: Kremlin spokesman
MOSCOW, May 22 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia and suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden have agreed to provide weapons and men to Chechnya's separatist rebels, a top Kremlin aide said Monday.

Omar renews talks offer to US on Osama
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban supreme leader Mulla Muhammad Omar has renewed talks offer to the United States on the issue of Osama bin Laden saying Taliban want negotiated settlement of the issue.

Taliban deny Mulla Razzaq discussed Durand Line with Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, May 22: Taliban's Ambassador in Islamabad Mohammad Haqqani has rejected the reports that their interior minister had held talks in Pakistan about accepting or not the Durand Line. "In fact the issue of Durand Line had not been raised at all,

Taliban not to accept changes in ATTA
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Afghan Deputy Commerce Minister Maulvi Faiz Mohammad Faizan has denied Pakistani press reports that Taliban have agreed to the changes brought about by Pakistan in the Afghan transit trade.

Pakistan - New Envoy for Taliban
Arif Ayub Pakistan's new envoy for Taliban
Islamabad, May 23, IRNA -- Pakistan has named Arif Ayub, one of its career diplomats, as Ambassador to the Taliban, an official statement here said. He would replace Aziz Khan, who served in this post for the last several years

UNHCR-Iran-Afghan
Good response reported to UNHCR-Iran effort to aid Afghan Refugees
Vienna, United Nations, May 23, IRNA -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Monday a positive response to a special programme initiated by the agency jointly with

RAWA asks Pakistan to review 'pro-Taliban' policy
ISLAMABAD (NNI): An Afghan woman human rights group Monday asked Pakistan to review its relationship with Taliban and avoid signing any agreement with the hard line student militia.

Don't laugh outside home, Pak police urges women
ISLAMABAD: The police chief of the federal capital urged women to cover their heads, dress simply and refrain from laughing loudly outside their homes, a newspaper reported Monday.