May 25, 2000

Afghan relief worker killed in Taleban bombing-UN
ISLAMABAD, May 25 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Thursday that the recent Taleban bombing of an opposition-held town had killed a U.N. aid worker and six of his children.

Russia defends right to strike Afghanistan
MOSCOW, May 25 (AFP) - Moscow on Thursday dismissed reports that it had backed down from threats to bomb suspected terrorist camps in Afghanistan out of respect for Washington's critical view of such strikes.

Taliban warn Russia of dire consequences
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan's Taliban have strongly condemned Russian threat of aerial strike against Afghanistan and warned Moscow of dire consequences if it ever commits such a blunder.

Tajikistan ready to rebuff any foreign aggression
DUSHANBE, May 25 (Itar-Tass) - Secretary of the Tajik Security Council Amirkul Azimov, speaking in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass on Thursday, said: "Tajikistan has never attacked anybody and threatened nobody.

Afganistan still threat to Tajik peace -UN official
DUSHANBE, May 24 (Reuters) - Lasting peace is still some way off for Tajikistan because of the Central Asian state's proximity to war-torn Afghanistan, the United Nation's Special Representative to Tajikistan said on Wednesday.

Security concerns, curbs on Taliban obstructs Turkmen gas pipeline project
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Security concerns and sanctions against the Taliban are main hurdle in the million dollars Turkmen gas pipeline project to Pakistan via Afghanistan, reports BBC.

Wheat to be sent to Afghanistan through official channels
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (May 25) : Pakistan has proposed Afghanistan to formalise provision and transportation of wheat to the war-torn country only through official channels in view of surplus production of the crop, an official source said.

Taliban Launch Fresh Assaults in Salang, Bombard Taloqan
PRESS RELEASE
24 May 2000
The Pakistani-Taliban militia has commenced its long-anticipated summer offensive in a bid to extend its military rule. However, the frontlines remain same as before. In an attempt to capture high points along the strategic Salang Highway, the militia launched a major assault from Khenjan in the direction of

As received by AAR.
"Letter by Dr. A. Abdullah, Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic State of Afghanistan addressed to Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator"

The Taliban's Land of Milk and Honey
By GHULAM HASNAIN Herat
Herat has always been different. Perched on the edge of the Margo Desert in Afghanistan, this oasis city was once the cultural, literary and political hub of Central Asia. Now it's the Taliban's own land of milk and honey.

Bringing Hope--and Homework--to the Girls
By KAREN MAZURKEWICH Kabul
The improvised blackboards are closet doors taken from a teacher's home. The children sit on kilims laid over the dirt floor. They share tattered, well-thumbed textbooks. But at least they are