November 29, 2000

A Dangerous Balancing Act: Karimov, Putin, and the Taliban Pauline Jones Luong Yale University

Central Asia's Stability and Russia's Security Dmitri Trenin Carnegie Moscow Center

U.N. Seeks Aid for Afghanistan
By KATHY GANNON
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - The United Nations issued an appeal Wednesday for $229 million to help Afghanistan, a country shattered by 21 years of relentless war, its worst drought in three decades and a ravaged economy

Moscow calls on UN to harden sanctions against Taliban
MOSCOW, Nov 28 (AFP) - Moscow on Tuesday called for the UN Security Council to harden sanctions against Kabul's ruling Taliban regime during a visit by the UN's special envoy to Afghanistan, Francesc Vendrell.

Pakistan Gates Shut to Many Afghans
By AMIR SHAH
TORKHAM, Afghanistan (AP) - Huddled in dirt-caked woolen blankets, children cough and cry while their parents keep vigil at the gates that separate Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Aid community concerned at travel restrictions in Afghanistan
KABUL, Nov 29 (AFP) - Senior foreign aid workers in Afghanistan expressed concern Wednesday over travel restrictions imposed by the ruling Taliban militia.

Pakistan's militants inspired by Taleban success
By Jack Redden
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The black-bearded mullah complained that exhorting Pakistanis to reject cable television and its contaminating western programmes had failed, so the time was near for Muslim militants to take matters into their own hands.

Last roar for the Lion of Panjshir?
The Australian
By Rory McCarthy
29nov00
A line of ageing Russian tanks and rocket-launchers have been firing from the mountain top at the Taliban positions across the river all afternoon. Mujaheddin fighters are advancing under the cover of artillery fire, yet the indomitable Ahmad Shah Masood,

Marginal gains for Masoud
The Times of India
By Mahendra Ved
NEW DELHI: Forces of Ahmed Shah Masoud have acquired "a marginal advantage" in their fight to recapture Taloqan. They have laid the siege from three flanks, except the west, and are "in the process of entering the town," Afghan envoy here, Masoud Khalili, claimed Tuesday.

India criticises Taliban and its 'foreign mentors'
UNITED NATIONS (NNI): India has criticised the Taliban and its "foreign mentors" for forcing war on the Afghan people which has led to "searing" poverty, profound underdevelopment and denial of human rights to the people.

Inderfurth to discuss Afghan situation with India
NEW DELHI (NNI): After A week of intense diplomatic activity centered around developments in Kashmir and Afghanistan, the United States Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs Karl F Inderfurth

US not to repeat Russian mistake: Taliban official
Islamabad, Nov 29, IRNA -- Taliban's Consul General in Karachi, Moulvi Rehmatullah Kakazai said the United States will not repeat the mistake which the former Soviet Union had once committed by invading

U.S., Russia Want Arms Embargo Against Taliban
U.N. resolution would allow Afghan opposition to rearm
Colum Lynch, Washington Post Wednesday, November 29, 2000
United Nations -- The United States and Russia are working together on a U.N. Security Council resolution that would prohibit the sale of weapons to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia while giving its internal opposition a free hand to rearm.

Taliban may accept even 4th option on Osama issue: envoy
Islamabad, Nov 29, IRNA -- Taliban envoy to Pakistan, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef on Wednesday said the group was ready to accept even a fourth option on the issue of Osama bin Laden, if the US wished so.

Loya Jirga team to visit S. Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Russia
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The delegation of former Afghan King Zahir Shah will soon visit Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Russia to seek support for the proposed Afghan Loya Jirga (grand assembly).

Iranian experts to study dredging of Hirmand in Afghanistan
ZAHEDAN, Nov 28 (IRNA) -- Zabol governor, Rostam Sadrieh announced here Tuesday that a group of Iranian experts will go to Afghanistan to study the issue of dredging Hirmand River in Neemroze province.

Afghan general's claims disputed
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Afghan opposition Northern Alliance has disputed several claims made last week by a former Afghan army general and published in the Pakistani and Iranian media.

Clintonís Ramazan message for Muslims
ISLAMABAD (NNI): US President Bill Clinton has said that it is a privilege to deliver again this year, on behalf of the American people, a message of friendship and respect to Muslims around the world as they begin the sacred

Interview with Commander Jandad Khan - Payam-e Mujahed (United Front)
Commander Jandad Khan is one of the major Mujahideen commanders in Kunar who has spent twenty years of his life in Jehad, first against the Soviets and now against the Pakistanis.

Iranian radio interviews warring Afghan sides' UN envoys on peace talks
text BBC Monitoring Service
United Kingdom; Nov 24, 2000 (from: eurasia-geopolitics@eGroups.com)
Iranian Mashhad radio on 23rd November broadcast prerecorded interviews with the Taleban's unofficial UN envoy, Abdol Hakim Mojahed, and the ousted Afghan government's representative

AAR Note:
And now for two flawed, deceitful and unsubstantiated Pakistani views expressed in the Pakistani media about the Afghan refugee crisis. It should be noted that as pointed out in several fair and accurate analyses of the refugee situation