November 21, 2000

Amnesty International Appeal

Raw Opium as the Lifeblood of Afghanistan

Human Rights Watch Report Refugee Crisis in Afghanistan

Heavy fighting erupts in northeastern Afghanistan
by Mohammad Bashir
KABUL, Nov 21 (AFP) - Heavy fighting raged in northeastern Afghanistan Tuesday as the Taliban Islamic militia counter-attacked against a wide-scale opposition offensive, resistance sources said.

Afghan fighting near Tajik border - BBC
Reports from Afghanistan say there has been an outbreak of heavy fighting overnight in the north-east between the Taleban and the opposition Northern Alliance.

Fighting resumes in Afghanistan, Russian troops on alert
DUSHANBE, November 21 (Itar-Tass) -- The Russian border troops stationed in Tajikistan were put on red alert last night and reported to their positions as fighting resumed between the Taliban

Afghanistan's military stalemate
The opposition has not managed a breakthrough
By Ian MacWilliam in Afghanistan
BBC News
The remote town of Faizabad tucked away in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan's far north-east has become the new "capital" of the opposition since its stronghold of Taloqan fell to Taleban forces in September.

India, Russia Urge Stronger Sanctions Against Taliban
Tuesday, November 21 11:17 PM SGT
NEW DELHI (AP)--India and Russia will urge stronger U.N. sanctions against Afghanistan's Taliban regime unless it gives up violence and severs connections with international terrorism, according to a joint statement by the two countries Tuesday.

Taleban rejects Afghan king's peace plan - BBC
The ruling Taleban authorities in Afghanistan have rejected a plan proposed by the former Afghan king to end the country's long-running civil war.

Afghan Taleban say no need for ex-king's peace plan
KABUL, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement on Monday dismissed the need for a peace plan proposed by former king Zahir Shah to end the country's civil war.

Loya Jirga Team arrives in Tehran
WASHINGTON - Nov. 21, 2000 - AAR - A day after its arrival from an official tour of northern Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, former Afghan King M. Zahir Shah's Loya Jirga

Taliban Releases 137 Prisoners
By AMIR SHAH, Associated Press Writer
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The ruling Taliban militia on Monday released 137 Shiite Muslim prisoners it had held for nearly two years and urged the opposition to follow suit and release government prisoners it is holding.

Russia ready to work with U.S. on Afghan "terrorism"
NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Russia is ready to work with the India and the United States to tackle religious extremism, terrorism and narcotics smuggling from Taleban-controlled Afghanistan, a senior Russian official said on Monday.

800,000 volunteer forces trained to protect eastern borders
Mashhad, Khorasan Prov., Nov 21, IRNA -- 800,000 Basijis (volunteer forces) have been trained to be stationed along the country's eastern borders to fight insecurity, the commander of provincial Islamic

Britain Reportedly Arrests Islamic Suspects
DUBAI (Reuters) - British police have arrested at least three suspected Islamic militants and seized explosives material from a Birmingham bookshop frequented by Islamists, a Saudi newspaper reported Monday.

Pakistan restricts transit of terrorists in wake of Cole attack
By RICHARD SALE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- In the wake of the Oct. 12, attack on the USS Cole that left 17 American sailors dead, the Pakistan government privately told the United States that closing its border with Afghanistan

Taleban enforces poppy ban
Afghanistan is said to produce 75% of the world's opium
By Kate Clark in Kabul - BBC
It is the season for sowing opium poppies in Afghanistan.
Last year it was the world largest producer of the flower, which is used to make heroin.
The ruling Taleban announced in the summer a complete ban on poppy cultivation,

Pakistan canít afford refugeesí burden: Spokesman
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Pakistan Monday said it could not afford the burden of more Afghan refugees and asked the international community to help Pakistan in dealing with the refugees and also extend help to Afghans.

Pakistan assures cooperation to Taliban in socio-economic sector
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Pakistan has assured cooperation to the Taliban in economic and social sector and reconstruction of war-ravaged Afghanistan.

Afghan traders ask Pakistan to lift ban on border trade
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghan traders have urged Pakistan government to ease restrictions on border trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistan Donates 90 Trucks to WFP
ISLAMABAD (Nov. 20) XINHUA - The Pakistani government donated 90 trucks to the UN World Food Program on Monday to help cope with rising logistical demands due to the devastating regional droughts...

Chinese scholars leaving for Kabul, Kandahar today
The News Int. - By Rahimullah Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: In the wake of heightened Chinese interest in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, a four-member team of scholars from the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR)

ëMummified princess belongs to Afghanistaní
ISLAMABAD (NNI): A renowned writer and researcher in Dr. Sher Zaman has said that the mummified princess recently recovered in Quetta belongs to Afghanistan.

Refugee crisis complicated
Frontier Post (Editorial)
One is completely at a loss to understand the sudden retreat from the decision made on November9 to plug the fresh flood of Afghan refugees.