September 2, 2000

Thousands Flee Afghanistan Drought
GENEVA (AP) - Some 3,000 people, fleeing Afghanistan's worst drought in three decades, have arrived in the western city of Herat the last two days, bringing the total number of displaced people to nearly 10,000,

Taleban asked to boost security after embassy bomb
ISLAMABAD, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Pakistan asked Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement on Friday to strengthen security for its diplomatic missions in the neighbouring country hours after a bomb rocked a Pakistani consulate there.

U.N. To Reduce Mine Clearing Plans
By KATHY GANNON
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Saying that donations have dried up, the United Nations announced Friday it would cut by half its land mine-clearing operations in Afghanistan - one of the heaviest mined countries in the world.

Musharraf backs Turkmen peace efforts
By Our Correspondent - DAWN
ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Friday complimented Turkmenistan's efforts to end fighting in Afghanistan between Taliban and the opposition Northern Alliance, an official statement said.

Taliban are threat to Pakistan: Inderfurth
ISLAMABAD(NNI): The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Karl Inderfurth Friday said that Taliban are not only threat to others but to Pakistan as well.

No threat to CARs from Afghanistan: Turkmen envoy
ISLAMABAD(NNI): Turkmenistan's special emissary, Boris Sheikhmuradov has said he does not think there was any danger from Afghanistan to the Central Asian States.

Continued Resistance in Taliqan:
August 31 -- The Mujahideen repulsed several attacks by the Taliban on Taliqan, the provincial capital of Takhar Province.
The Taliban launched two attacks from the direction of Baharak on August 26,

Turkey offers Uzbeks, Kyrgyz aid against rebels
ANKARA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Turkey has offered ``financial and moral'' aid for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in the fight against suspected Islamic guerrillas opposing Uzbekistan's secular government, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday.

Crescent moon rises over central Asia
China and Russia are fighting a common foe, reports China correspondent
LYNNE O'DONNELL
The Australian - 2 Sep. 00
CHINA and Russia are boosting military support for three central Asian republics struggling to suppress incursions by Islamic guerillas into the Fergana Valley, a massive swath of Uzbekistan that stretches across

Afghan smugglers kidnap Iranians, donkeys
TEHRAN, Aug 31 (AFP) - Afghan drug smugglers have kidnapped eight Iranian villagers and four donkeys and are demanding 25,000 dollars in ransom, press reports said Thursday.

Human rights group travels to Sydney
CNN/Sports Illustrated - August 29, 00
PARIS (AP) -- A French human rights group travels to Australia next week to focus attention on countries who discriminate against sports women, fielding Olympic teams with no female athletes.