October 19, 2000

International conference says threat to stability from Afghanistan
TASHKENT, Oct 19 (AFP) - Experts at an international conference to counter the spread of drugs and Islamic militancy blamed Afghanistan Thursday for mounting instability in the Central Asia region.

US Diplomat on Russia, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia: Comment
Moscow, Oct. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Below are comments by Thomas Pickering, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs and a former ambassador to Russia, on talks with Russian officials this week on the situation in Afghanistan

Taloqan Under 3-way Siege as Fighting Rages in Parts of Kunduz, Takhar and Samangan Provinces
AAR - Oct. 19, 2000 - Reports from Northern Afghanistan indicate that following a series of successful counter-attacks by the Afghan United Front (UF) forces led by Ahmad Shah Massoud, fierce fighting

Afghan opposition claims more battle success
KABUL, Oct 18 (AFP) - Afghan opposition forces Wednesday claimed they were tightening their grip on northeastern Takhar province with the capture of a vital district from the ruling Taliban militia.

Uzbekistan prepared to open bridge with stable Afghanistan
TASHKENT, Oct 18 (AFP) - Uzbekistan is prepared to reopen a key crossing-point with a stable Afghanistan, an Uzbek minister said Wednesday, in a further softening of the country's stance towards the ruling Taliban.

Three million suffering from malaria in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Sources in the Afghan Ministry of Public Health have said that besides other diseases, at least three million people in various parts of Afghanistan are suffering from Malaria, reports BBC.

US may again attack Afghanistan: Afghan sources
Islamabad, Oct 18 (IRNA) -- Afghan sources in Pakistan speak about the possibility of another US attack on Afghanistan. Talking to IRNA, these sources said on Wednesday that Washington may,

Islamic hand behind death of 17 US sailors and UK embassy bomb in Yemen
ADEN, Yemen, Oct 19 (AFP) - Islamic extremists were behind the suicide bombing of a US destroyer which killed 17 sailors and a grenade attack at the British embassy, Yemen has admitted.

Afghan factions must lay down arms, opt for peace: daily
Tehran, Oct 19, IRNA -- `Iran News' in its editorial on Thursday suggested that if war, strife and conflict between the Afghan factions

10,000 Afghan Refugees Enter Pakistan Within 2 Months
ISLAMABAD (Oct. 19) XINHUA - In fear of the recent fighting between the Taliban militia and the Northern Alliance and drought conditions in Afghanistan, more than 10,000 Afghan refugees have poured into Pakistan

Afghan refugees a permanent burden on economy
Frontier Post 10/18/00
PESHAWAR - The Afghan refugees living in Frontier Province for the last20 years have become an unprecedented burden on the resources of the country in general and NWFP in particular.

Afghanistan: Ousted President Rabbani
18 October 2000
Radio Netherlands
Since the Taliban captured the Afghan capital, Kabul, in 1996, the country's legimitate president, Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, has been based in the remote north-eastern part of Afghanistan.

Taliban officials to participate in Dastarbandy
Frontier Post 10/18/00
PESHAWAR (Ariana) - High officials of Taliban have confirmedparticipation in the annual “Dastar Bandi” function of Darul Uloom Haqania, to be held in Akora Khattak on Oct 26.

Afghanistan: A Logistical Nightmare
16 October 2000
Radio Netherlands
It is going to be a difficult winter for the 100,000 people who have fled the fighting in north-eastern Afghanistan. The Taliban have been steadily gaining ground on the forces of Ahmed Shah Masud, the leader of the Northern Alliance, which controls