April 28, 2001

Opposition claims launch of major Taliban offensive
Saturday April 28, 3:20 PM
KABUL, April 28 (AFP) - The Taliban have launched their long-expected summer offensive in northern Afghanistan in a bid to overwhelm opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood, the opposition said Saturday.

Heavy fighting as Afghan war season starts
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL, Apr 28 (Reuters) - Heavy fighting erupted in northern Afghanistan on Saturday, apparently marking the start of a spring offensive despite the country's deepening humanitarian crisis.

Taliban turn down Japan's offer to join Afghan peace talks
Islamabad, April 27 (IRNA) -- Taliban have turned down an offer by Japan to join talks with the United Front in Tokyo with the involvement of the United Nations in the dialogue process,

FransescVendrell for political solution to Osama issue
 Islamabad, April 27, IRNA -- The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan, Fransesc Vendrell, on Friday asked Talibn to politically resolve the issue of Osama bin

Pakistan, Taliban to discuss terrorists' extradition: Minister
 Islamabad, April 28, IRNA -- Pakistani and Taliban officials will soon meet to discuss the extradition of wanted Pakistanis, who have fled to Afghanistan after committing crimes in Pakistan, Interior Minister

UN refugee chief to tour hotspots
By Claire Doole in Geneva - BBC
The new head of the UN refugee agency, Ruud Lubbers, sets off on a 10-day tour of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan on Saturday.

Pakistan rejects Taliban's allegation of mistreatment with Afghan DPs
Islamabad, April 27 (IRNA) -- Pakistan on Friday rejected Taliban's allegation that the Pakistani police were meting out bad treatment to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Afghans desperate for water
The UN says more aid is urgently needed
By Kate Clark in Islamabad - BBC
Civil war and the worst drought in living memory has forced 700,000 Afghans from their homes in less than a year.

"With fighting in Afghanistan continuing, anything can happen..."
Interview: Eduard Shevchenko, Russia's ambassador to Pakistan
by Imtiaz Gul The Friday Times (Pakistan) April 27-May 3, 2001
Soviet Union, now consigned to the dustbin of history, committed a blunder by invading Afghanistan in pursuit of its "perceived interests". Pakistan is doing the same and might suffer the same way,

UN council expects more Afghan fighting
By WILLIAM M. REILLY
UNITED NATIONS, April 26 (UPI) -- Members of the Security Council, after an Afghanistan briefing Thursday, were alarmed "that large scale fighting was expected to resume"

Iraqis and Afghans top list of refugees in Europe
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iraqis and Afghans fleeing drought, fighting and hunger topped the list of more than 100,000 refugees seeking asylum in Europe in the first quarter of 2001,