April 21, 2001

Afghan Taliban demand UN special rapporteur's ouster
KABUL, April 21 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia Saturday urged the United Nations to remove its special rapporteur on human rights, Kamal Hossein, saying he was biased toward to the opposition.

Britain relaxes restrictions on citizens' access to Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, April 20 (AFP) - Britain has relaxed restrictions on its citizens' access to strife-torn Afghanistan in response to security improvements and a humanitarian crisis there, a diplomat said Friday.

US gives money to de-mine Afghanistan
The United States has announced it is donating eighty-three vehicles and more than two-and-a-half million dollars to help rid Afghanistan of its landmines.

Growing influx of Afghans to Herat prompts shelter appeal
GENEVA, April 20 (AFP) - The flow of people into the western Afghan city of Herat from neighbouring areas has significantly jumped prompting urgent need for more shelter, the International

fighting erupts in northern Afghanistan
 Islamabad, April 21, IRNA -- There are reports of fresh fighting between the United Islamic front of Afghanistan and Taliban in northern and central Afghanistan.

Opposition attack Taliban in central Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, April 20 (AFP) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia has beaten back an attack by opposition forces in the central province of Bamiyan, a report said Friday.

Tajik president calls for EU efforts to end Afghan warfare
DUSHANBE, April 20 (AFP) - Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov has called on European Union states to help bring peace to war-torn Afghanistan.

American diplomats "engage" Taliban
The Friday Times (Pak.) April 20, 2001
Imtiaz Gul says the visit could be the beginning of back-channel diplomacy
As three Americans officials visited Herat and some other parts of Afghanistan early this week, an Afghan diplomat in Islamabad described it as a "positive development" that might

Pakistan considers curfew during arms roundup
ISLAMABAD, April 20 (AFP) - Pakistan's military regime is considering imposing a curfew in some areas during a forthcoming roundup of illegal weapons which could provoke resistance

No obstacles for economic ties with Pakistan - Russia official
By Vladimir Suprun
ISLAMABAD, Apr 19, 2001 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said on Thursday that Russia saw no political obstacles at present for developing trade

Rocca's ascent is bad news for Pakistan
By Chidanand Rajghatta
The Times of India News Service
WASHINGTON: Rogue elements in Pakistan have much to fear from the appointment of Christina Rocca as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia. It was at Rocca's instance

Afghanistan: Ethnic Kyrgyz residents in repatriation dilemma
Source: UN OCHA Integrated Regional Information Network for Central Asia (IRIN-CA)
ISLAMABAD, 20 April (IRIN) - Efforts by the Kyrgyz government to repatriate a group of 1,600 ethnic Kyrgyz living in the war-stricken province of Badakhshan, northeastern Afghanistan,

The ungrateful Commander Masood
Hamid Alvi
The Nation (Pak.) Opinion 4/20/01
The statements venomously critical of Pakistan's Afghan policy made by Ahmad Shah Masood in Paris in the first week of April must have sounded shocking and outrageous to those

Pakistan and Resolution 1333
Nasim Zehra The News: Jang (Pakistan) April 19, 2001 - OPINION
Naturally Pakistan was never comfortable with the passage of resolution 1333 by the UN Security Council (UNSC). Its general criticism, similar to that of many independent observers,