August 17, 2001

Diplomats ignore Taliban advice to leave Kabul
By Syed Salahuddin
KABUL, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Western diplomats seeking access to eight foreign aid workers accused of promoting Christianity began a fourth frustrating day in Kabul on Friday saying they would not leave as advised by Afghanistan's

Diplomats seek more dialogue with Afghan Taliban
KABUL, Aug 17 (AFP) - Western diplomats Friday vowed to press on with efforts to gain consular access to eight foreign aid workers facing trial for allegedly preaching Christianity in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

Aid worker issue key to Afghan relations-Armitage
By Michael Christie
SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. official warned Afghanistan's ruling Taliban on Friday that their refusal to grant consular access to detained foreign aid workers accused of spreading Christianity could further harm

Afghan Northern Alliance
ready to repel Taliban attacks
Tehran, Aug 16, IRNA -- In light of the threatening attacks of the Taliban in the northeast of Kabul, northern Afghanistan in Takhar province

Pakistan committed to implementation of anti-Taliban UN sanctions despite reservations
ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (APP): Pakistan Thursday said it is committed to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on  Afghanistan inspite of its well-known reservations on these resolutions.

Taliban facing shortages on Takhar front
Islamabad, Aug 17, IRNA -- Mullah Baradar, the Taliban commander in the northeastern Takhar province, has asked Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, for more supplies and men

Taliban intelligence chiefs meet in Takhar
Frontier Post
PESHAWAR: An important defence meeting of Taliban's intelligence chiefs under the leadership of Qari Ahmadullah was held in Takhar province of Afghanistan.

Taliban set tents on fire, loot cattle in Bamyan
Islamabad, Aug 17, IRNA -- The Taliban militiamen attacked the farmers who had taken refuge in the mountain in Shiberto, Qarghanato and Shahidan, west of the city of Bamyan,

2,300 Afghans repatriated from Pakistan this week
Islamabad, Aug 17, IRNA -- Another 2,300 Afghans repatriated home this week, bringing to nearly 11,000 the number of refugees who have returned to Afghanistan since the start of UNHCR's voluntary

Afghans increasingly being forced out of Quetta: UN
Islamabad, Aug 17, IRNA -- Conditions in refugee camps outside the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta are set to worsen, as a government policy continues to force many Afghans out of the city into

US offers $63m aid for Afghan DPs
Frontier Post
ISLAMABAD (Online): United States has made an offer to provide financial assistance of 63 million dollars for the repatriation of Afghan nationals living in the federal capital.This was disclosed by newly appointed US

Loya Jirga: A step in right direction
Sahibzada Naseem Ahmad - Frontier Post 8/17/01
Afghanistan is the world's most unfortunate land going through the worst time of its history as a result of an on-going tug of war between the leaders of different Afghan factions since the withdrawal

Call for more Iranian support
Frontier Post
TEHRAN: The ousted Rabbani government's permanent envoy to the United Nations, Rawan Farhadi, has said that Shias and Sunnis had been peacefully living together in Afghanistan

Haji Faqir passes away
Frontier Post Report
PESHAWAR: Afghan famous former parliamentarian breathed his last here in a local hospital in wee hours of Monday.

US to seek democracy pledge from Inam
By Amir Mateen - Jang/The News
WASHINGTON: The announcement of electoral roadmap may have softened some ground for Pakistan Foreign Secretary Inamul Haq, who reaches Washington today

Meddling with the mandate
The writer is Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad
As Pakistan waits to receive UN Monitors for Afghanistan, it is becoming increasingly evident that the UN is fast becoming a tool for the implementation of the global agenda of the US