October 10, 2000

Ceasefire for Afghan polio campaign
By Susannah Price in Islamabad - BBC 10/10
Afghanistan's warring sides have agreed to a three-day ceasefire starting on Tuesday to enable the United Nations to immunize children against polio.

UN allays concerns that Afghan refugees flooding into Tajikistan
KABUL, Oct 9 (AFP) - The United Nations on Monday said no Afghan refugees have fled to neighboring Tajikistan despite the latest round of fighting which had triggered fears war-displaced families might flood across the border.

UN warns of famine, deaths in drought-hit northern Afghanistan
KABUL, Oct 9 (AFP) - The United Nations on Monday called for a massive urgent international humanitarian effort to avoid widespread famine in drought-ravaged northern Afghanistan.

UAE airline to operate weekly Afghanistan flights
DUBAI, Oct 10 (Reuters) - A private United Arab Emirates (UAE) airline said on Tuesday it planned to operate weekly flights from Sharjah to Kandahar in southern Afghanistan if enough passengers were available.

Russia, Kazakhstan accuse Taliban of terrorism, drug trafficking
ASTANA, Oct 9 (AFP) - Russia and Kazakhstan accused Afghanistan's ruling Taliban of terrorism and drug trafficking as fears grew in Central Asia that the Islamist militia's advance north will destabilize the region.

Russia, four ex-Soviet states form economic union
By Sebastian Alison
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Russia and four other ex-Soviet states on Tuesday formed a new economic grouping with similar goals to the European Union,

International Security and Political Concerns Shape Future of Afghan Conflict
Afghan Initiatives Rekindled as Fateful Internal Battles Loom Large
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2000 - AAR - While the fighting in Afghanistan seems to have reached a possible "do-or-die" point for some observers, the United Nations sent its special emissary on a mini shuttle-diplomacy tour last week

Death Toll in Rebel Incursion Put at 150
From LA Times Wire Reports
roops in Kyrgyzstan have killed 120 rebels and lost 30 of their own men in operations to end an incursion by Islamist gunmen, the head of the former Soviet republic's

Pakistan may export electricity to Afghanistan
By Khaleeq Kiani - The News Int. 10/10
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to finalise the agreement for exporting electricity to war-torn Afghanistan during three-day visit of an Afghan ministerial delegation from Tuesday

Differences between Iran, Taliban to vanish soon: Taliban envoy
Islamabad, Oct 9, IRNA -- The Taliban envoy in Islamabad on Monday said differences between Iran and Taliban would end in the near future.

Taliban raps US abstention on anti-Israel voting
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan ruling Taliban Monday denounced the United States abstention from voting against Israel in the UN Security Council.

US using UN for economic, political interests: Taliban
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan ruling Taliban Monday condemned fresh move by the United States to impose more economic sanctions on the war-shattered Afghanistan,

Arms for India will destabilize region: Pakistan expresses concern
By Hasan Akhtar - DAWN
ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: Pakistan expressed concern on Monday over a recent arms deal between Russia and India as it would have destabilizing impact on the region.

Pakistan must go for Iranian gas pipeline: Yousuf
NISAR AHMED SHEIKH - BR
ISLAMABAD (October 10) : Pakistan must go for the Iranian gas pipeline for reasons of economics and environment, while keeping the other three gas pipeline options under consideration,

Russia was about to attack Pakistan in '86: CIA
By Amir Mateen - The News Int. 10/10
WASHINGTON: American CIA feared that the supply of anti-aircraft stinger missiles to Afghan mujahideen in 1986 might provoke the Soviet Union to attack