April 26, 2001

Bush opens door a bit on Afghan relations
Experts sent to aid ex-opium farmers
By Barbara Crossette,  New York Times News Service - April 25, 2001
NEW YORK -- In a first, cautious step toward reducing the isolation of the Taliban, the Bush administration has sent two U.S. narcotics experts to Afghanistan as part of an international

Another US official to visit Afghanistan on April 25th
Islamabad, April 24, IRNA - Another American official will travel to Afghanistan on Wednesday (April 25) delegation to assess the ban on poppy cultivation, diplomatic sources said

UK officials make first trip to Kabul in 3 years
DAWN
ISLAMABAD, April 25: British officials left for Afghanistan on Wednesday for the first time since 1998 as part of a UN trip, which includes members of the US Drug Enforcement Agency

Pak-Iran co-operation needed for durable peace to Afghanistan: CE
The News Int.
ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday called for Pak-Iran co operation for bringing durable peace to war-shattered Afghanistan.

Pakistani, Iranian officials review security cooperation
Islamabad, April 25, IRNA -- High ranking officials of the Islamic republics of Iran and Pakistan on Wednesday reviewed the security cooperation between the two countries

Support to gas pipeline assured: Land route only feasible option, says Iran
By Khaleeq Kiani  - DAWN
ISLAMABAD, April 25: Pakistan and Iran agreed on Wednesday that trans-Pakistan route was the only feasible option for Iran-India gas pipeline project. Petroleum Minister

Pakistan, Iran agree to tighten border vigilance
ISLAMABAD, April 25 (Reuters) - Pakistan and Iran agreed on Wednesday to expand cooperation to check cross-border smuggling, drug-trafficking and movement of known criminals

Taliban release Pakistani officials
The News Int.
PESHAWAR: The Pak-Afghan border remained closed for the third consecutive day on Wednesday though Taliban authorities released the detained personnel of Tall Scouts, officials said.

Russia against entry of Pakistan to Shanghai Five
South Nexis
MOSCOW, Apr 26: Russia has expressed its displeasure at granting membership of Shanghai Five group of nations to Pakistan due to Islamabad's continued support to Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Afghan policy - some questions
Salahuddin K. Leghari - The Nation Opinion 4/26/01
Mr Ahmed Rashid is a scholar-journalist of high calibre. He is internationally renowned and his views on Afghanistan must necessarily carry weight as he has been reporting on

An Indo-Iran axis?
By Shameem Akhtar - Opinion DAWN 4/26/01
THE forthright advice of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to the visiting Indian prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to seek a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute