April 4, 2001

Massoud in Paris Assures of Growing " National Unity " and " Resistance " Against Taliban
Asks for Western Pressure on Pakistan and Increased Humanitarian Aid for All Afghans
Advocates " Democratic Islam ," Elections and Human Rights for Afghanistan
By Omar Samad
PARIS, March 4, 2001 – AAR – The legendary military leader of the Afghan resistance against the Taliban, commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who is also the Defense Minister

In first Western visit, Afghanistan's Masood appeals for aid
Wednesday April 4, 8:57 PM
PARIS, April 4 (AFP) - Afghan opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood made an impassioned plea Wednesday for foreign aid in his war against the ruling Taliban and called for diplomatic

France welcomes Afghan rebel
BBC News
The opposition Afghan military commander, Ahmed Shah Masood, has appealed for international support to help confront the Taleban.

"Lion of Panjshir" takes battle to new stage
Wednesday April 4, 5:20 PM
KABUL, April 4 (AFP) - Ahmad Shah Masood, the commander of the Afghan opposition known as the "Lion of Panjshir," has traded guerrilla war for diplomacy, at least temporarily.

U.N. says Pakistan reneges on deal to aid refugees
By Evelyn Leopold
Wednesday April 4, 12:38 PM
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations has accused Pakistan of reneging on an agreement to let adequate supplies of emergency aid into an Afghan refugee camp,

Deplorable conditions at Afghan refugee camp: UNHCR
Tuesday April 3, 9:30 PM
GENEVA, April 3 (AFP) - Afghans are dying every day from hunger and disease in the Jalozai refugee camp in Pakistan, where the UN is barred from distributing food and where heavy rains

Taliban Blames U.N for Afghan Crisis
Tuesday, April 03, 2001 2:24 PM EST
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement on Tuesday blamed the United Nations for what it called ``the current crisis'' in the war-torn country.

West's invitation to Masood a major initiative
The News: Jang (Pakistan) Comment
By Rahimullah Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: The decision to invite opposition military commander Ahmad Shah Masood to address the European Parliament is a major Western initiative to show solidarity with the anti-Taliban

Taliban calls on UNO to lift sanctions against Kabul regime
Wednesday, April 04, 2001 9:40 AM EST
ISLAMABAD, Apr 04, 2001 (Itar-Tass via COMTEX) -- The Taliban movement has called on the United Nations to lift the sanctions clamped down on the Kabul regime for its refusal to

Taliban call for sanctions revision
The News: Jang (Pakistan)
KABUL: The Taliban have asked the United Nations (UN) to revise their tough sanctions against them. In a letter to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, seen by AFP on Tuesday

Pakistan blamed for refugee misery
BBC News
The United Nations has accused Pakistan of breaking an agreement to allow adequate food and medical supplies to reach an Afghan refugee camp.

Taliban should be part of talks: Russian minister
The Times of India
By Arun Mohanty
MOSCOW: A senior Russian minister has argued in favor of involving the Taliban in talks to bring peace to Afghanistan.

Afghan Taliban and WFP discuss Kabul food survey
KABUL, April 4 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said on Wednesday that they had given the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) permission to conduct a food aid survey in Kabul

Afghan Shi'ites mourn martrydom of Prophet's grandson
KABUL, April 4 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims in the Afghan capital Kabul beat their breasts or flailed themselves with blades and chains on Wednesday to mark the martyrdom

Razed Sri Lanka temple provokes Taliban comparison
COLOMBO, April 4 (Reuters) - Weeks after spearheading a diplomatic drive to avert the destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan, the Sri Lankan government drew fire on Wednesday for partly

Badakhshan dwellers surviving on grass
By Syed Bukhar Shah
The News: Jang (Pakistan)
PESHAWAR: Severe drought and starvation in the Badakhshan province of Northern Afghanistan have claimed some 1,000 lives during the last month. Toll includes 104, who died last week.

UNESCO hopes to preserve remaining Afghan artifacts
.c Kyodo News Service
ISLAMABAD, April 4 (Kyodo) - A UNESCO spokeswoman on Wednesday said a visit by UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura to Pakistan between Wednesday and Friday

U.S. to rest its case against bin Laden followers
NEW YORK, April 4 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Wednesday are expected to end their case against four followers of Osama bin Laden after two months of testimony aimed

Pakistan to Promote Legal Border Trade With Afghanistan, Iran
Wednesday April 4, 10:20 AM
ISLAMABAD, April 4 Asia Pulse - Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood has said that the government has taken various steps to prevent the flow of smuggled goods to