November 17, 2000

USS Cole Bombers Identified
WASHINGTON (AP) - The two men who carried out the suicide bombing of the USS Cole last month have been identified as veterans of the U.S.-backed guerrilla war to drive Soviet forces from Afghanistan, The Washington Post reported Friday.

INTERVIEW-U.N envoy says has begun Afghan peace shuttle
By Jack Redden
ISLAMABAD, Nov 16 (Reuters) - The U.N. representative trying to bring peace to Afghanistan said on Thursday he is already shuttling between the two sides and hopes to have at least a firm agenda agreed by February.

Afghan Opposition Questions Defector Identity and Denies False Allegations
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON, 11/16/2000 - AAR - The Afghan United Front alliance Thursday vehemently rejected the validity of certain media reports and Taliban claims that a recent defector had accused Russian troops

UN helpless over Afghan ban
BBC News
The United Nations says it has reached deadlock in its attempts to persuade Pakistan to reopen its borders to Afghan refugees.

UN calls on Afghanistan's neighbours to accept refugees
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17 (AFP) - The United Nations on Friday called on Afghanistan's neighbours to reopen their borders to refugees fleeing drought and fighting or face the consequences of a deeper humanitarian emergency.

Ban on Afghan Refugees to Pakistan to affect Pak-Afghan relations
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Member of the suspended NWFP Assembly Saifullah Khan has said that the ban on entry of Afghan refugees to Pakistan might adversely affect Pak-Afghan relations.

Rabbani suppoprts Zahir Shah move of Loya Jirga
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ousted Afghan president Professor Rabbani supports the Loya Jirga move by Zahir Shah, Envoy of the ousted Afghan regime in New York, Dr. Rawan Farhadi has said.

Wanted people to be extradited to Pakistan: Mutawakil
By our correspondent - The News Int.
QUETTA: Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil on Thursday assured that the Afghan government would hand over those Pakistanis who were wanted by

OIC can play big role in settlement of Afghan conflict
ISALAMABAD (NNI): Afghan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakkil who led the Taliban delegation to the OIC Doha summit has said the OIC can play a major role in solution to the Afghan problem.

Titanic craze grips Afghan capital
KABUL, Nov 16 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia may have banned television, music and cinema, but even they have been powerless to stop the inevitable craze for the romantic blockbuster "Titanic."

Afghan government revises visa policy to check spying
Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD (November 17) : In a bid to check the growing American activity in Afghanistan and defend the Islamic values, the Taleban government in the war-torn