October 5, 2000

Afghan opposition to open new fronts
A spokesman for the Afghan northern alliance commander, Ahmad Shah Masood, has said the opposition have decided to form a new military command.

U.N. envoy arrives in Afghan capital in peace bid
KABUL, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The United Nations special envoy for Afghanistan arrived in Kabul on Thursday for talks with the ruling Taleban and said a political solution was needed to stop the latest fighting.

Paksitan backing Taliban's offensive -- Masood
Dushanbe, Oct 4 (IRNA) -- Defense Minister of Afghan Islamic government Ahmad Shah Masood said in the Tajik capital on Wednesday that capture of Taloqan by Taliban militia did not imply

A Large Number of Mujahideen Volunteers Arrive in Takhar Province
The Enemy's Attacks Around Taloqan Are Defeated -Wednesday, October 4
In order to defend against the Pakistani invasion, a large number of Mujahideen volunteers from various regions of the country have arrived in Taloqan and neighboring areas.

Loya Jirga still valid option for peace: Italy
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Italy still believes that the Loya Jirga (grand assembly), represents the most valid option for bringing peace to the war-ravaged Afghanistan and Rome fully supports its implementation, a senior Italian official has said.

ANALYSIS-Security-conscious Russia, India find common foe
By Oleg Shchedrov
BOMBAY, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Nothing strengthens friendship better than the feeling of a common threat.
Moscow and New Delhi, which clinched a strategic partnership on Tuesday during Russian President Vladimir Putin's

Taliban ally Indo-Russia concerns on terrorism
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have allayed Indo-Russia concerns about the spread of terrorism from Afghanistan.

Pakistan bars Chechen militants' passage to Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Oct 4 (Business Recorder) : Pakistan has withdrawn the facility of land air transit passage from Chechen militants and has informed Russia of this decision, diplomatic sources revealed here on Tuesday.

Taliban condemn Palestinian carnage
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban have expressed deep concern over the Middle East situation and urged the international community to take steps for rectifying the situation.

Taliban offensive destabilising region: US - The Nation - Oct 4
WASHINGTON - The new commander-in-chief of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Tommy Frank has described the situation inside Afghanistan as " troublesome"

Pakistan to fund Kabul road project
KABUL, Oct 4 (Business Recorder) : Asphalting of the main streets in Kabul city, the capital of Afghanistan has started, Bakhtar Information Agency reported on Tuesday.

Pak diplomacy made Taliban to contact West
By Umer Farooq- The News Int. (Pak.) 10/5
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's constant appeals to the world community to make Taliban change their policies on a number of key issues, including international terrorism and human rights seem to have paid off.

Neighbors warming up to Taliban
By Robert Marquand - Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor -10/5 NEW DELHI
With important battlefield victories for the ultra-orthodox Taliban regime in the past month, the prospect of Afghanistan coming under a single