September 18, 2000

Afghan opposition says takes hills near lost town
KABUL, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Afghan opposition forces on Sunday said they had seized 10 hilltops around the key northeastern town of Taloqan, which they lost to the ruling Taleban earlier this month.

Taliban in full control of Nangarhar
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (NNI): Taliban Sunday claimed to have wiped out the opposition forces in eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.

Taleban says open for talks with Afghan opponents
MOSCOW, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's foreign minister said in an interview released on Sunday that his Taleban movement had offered to hold peace talks with opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood at any time.

Taliban dismiss 'Six-Plus-Two' apprehensions
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan ruling Taliban Sunday dismissed as a futile and old exercise the 'Six-Plus-Two' apprehensions about the Afghan conflict.

Russia calls for stricter measures against Taliban
MOSCOW, Sept 18 (AFP) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has called for tougher international sanctions against the Taliban Islamic hardliners who control some 90 percent of Afghanistan, in a statement carried by the Interfax news agency

Afghan political figures call for assembly inside country
Monday, September 18 2:27 AM SGT
NICOSIA, Sept 17 (AFP) - Dozens of Afghan political figures closed a meeting in Cyprus on Sunday with a call for all Afghan factions to convene an assembly within the country.

Afghans give tax-free transit to Pakistan traders
KABUL, Sep 18 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement said on Monday Pakistani businessmen would be exempt from transit taxes on shipments to central Asian markets.

Major shift in French policy on Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): France has brought in a major shift in its policy towards Afghanistan by inviting the Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Maulvi Abdul Rehman Zahid to visit Paris.

UNHCR Ogata concludes talks with Taliban, leaves for Iran
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 18 (Kyodo) - U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Sadako Ogata on Monday concluded two days of talks with Taliban officials in Herat in northwestern Afghanistan and left by road for Iran, Afghan Islamic Press

UN warns of halting humanitarian aid program in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): United Nations has feared that Taliban's edict barring women to work with international aid organisations may halt humanitarian aid programmes in war-torn Afghanistan.

Osama escapes attempt on life
F.P. Bureau Report 09/17/2000
PESHAWAR - The much-sought after Arab dissident, Osama bin Ladin, reportedly escaped a life-attempt a few weeks back when some unidentified assailants ambushed his convoy in southern Afghan province, Qandahar.

Jordan court sentences six bin Laden men to death
AMMAN, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Jordan's State Security Court on Monday sentenced to death six Muslim militants linked to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden for planning attacks against Israeli and U.S. targets in the kingdom.

Washington Times sees Pakistan increasingly isolated
ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (NNI): "Pakistan has rarely been as alone as it is today", says a recent Washington Times article, predicated on a host of misconceptions and misstatements about the country's policies and realities.

THE WHITE HOUSE:
Office of the Press Secretary
SEP 18, 2000, M2 Communications
Press briefing by Senior Director, Near East and South Asian Affairs and National Security Council, Bruce Riedel and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Rick Inderfurth

ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF UZBEKISTAN'S INCURSION ASSISTS THE TALIBAN
Ahmed Rashid
Wednesday/September 13, 2000
The incursions from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan into the three Central Asian republics of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan by Islamic militants