January 25, 2000

Pakistan eager to join security pact

Fighting in Afghanistan Could Draw Russia Into the Conflict

New U.N. Sanctions Against Taliban Go into Effect

U.N. Refugee Agency Urges Tajikistan to Aid Afghan Refugees

Afghan opposition claims to have found mass graves
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (AFP) - The Afghan opposition said Wednesday it has discovered three graves containing bodies of 70 people killed by the ruling Taliban forces recently, a private news agency reported.

Afghan opposition reports Taliban area mass graves
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Afghanistan's opposition alliance said Wednesday it had found three mass graves containing 70 bodies in a northern area vacated by the ruling Taliban movement forces

Afghan Taliban reject reports of mass killings
Thursday, January 25 9:12 PM SGT
KABUL, Jan 25 (AFP) - Afghanistan's Taliban militia Thursday denied the existence of a "mass grave" in the remote north as opposition groups invited the United Nations to investigate alleged massacres.

UNHCR says Afghan refugees pouring into Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The United Nations refugee agency said on Wednesday that more than 50,000 refugees fleeing civil war and drought in Afghanistan had arrived in Pakistan in the past 10 days.

Afghan exodus to Tajikistan a threat to the whole region
DUSHANBE, January 24 (Itar-Tass) -- The possible mass-scale inflow of Afghan refugees to the territory of Tajikistan can give rise to major negative consequences for the republic's

Help to displaced Afghans to continue, says envoy
Frontier Post
PESHAWARó The European Commission Ambassador in Islamabad, Kurt Juul, has said that despite the UN sanctions against Taliban, their assistance to the internal displaced
 

Rabbani, Massoud Meet UN Secretary-General's Envoy
Faizabad, January 24 - The U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, H.E. Mr. Francesc Vendrell, met today at noon

AI for US support on international tribunal
Frontier Post
WASHINGTON (Agencies) - As US-supported sanctions tighten on Afghanistan,Amnesty International has urged the Bush administration to support the establishment of an international

Uzbek, Pakistani FMs discuss Afghan conflict - BBC
The Uzbek Foreign Minister, Abdulaziz Kamilov, is in Pakistan for talks with his counterpart, Abdul Sattar, which are expected to focus on the Afghan conflict and regional security.

UN taking sides in ongoing fighting, say Taliban
Frontier Post
PESHAWAR, Jan 24 -- Taliban have said that the United Nations is playing the role of a warring faction in the war-ravaged Afghanistan, which is damaging its reputation.

Pakistani Islamists seek Japanese help to end Afghan sanctions
Thursday, January 25 6:54 PM SGT
ISLAMABAD, Jan 25 (AFP) - Leaders of Pakistani Islamic parties Thursday urged Japan to use its influence to lift United Nations sanctions against the fundamentalist Taliban militia ruling Afghanistan.

Pakistan unable to assist U.S. on Osama issue
IRNA
Islamabad, Jan 24 -- The Pakistan Interior Minister, Lt. General (Retd.) Moinuddin Haider says Pakistan cannot extend any help to the United States for resolving the issue of Osama bin Laden.

Zahir Shah seeks favour to Loya Jirga
Frontier Post
ISLAMABAD- The former Afghan monarch Zahir Shah has asked the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Conference and neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to extend

Loya Jirga to be held in Afghanistan in next 6 months
Islamabad, Jan 24 (IRNA) -- A Pakistani newspaper on Wednesday claimed that the Loya Jirga (grand assembly of tribal chieftains and faction leaders) will be held in Afghanistan in the next six months.

Taliban urged to accept Loya Jirga
ISLAMABAD (NNI) - The Rome Process initiated by the former Afghan KingZahir Shah to convene a Loya Jirga in Afghanistan has urged the Taliban to accept the proposal.

Britain backs efforts for convening Loya Jirga
Broadly-based government stressed - Frontier Post 1/25/01
ISLAMABAD - Britain on Wednesday overtly voiced its support for the contention to Afghan throne of former Afghan King Zahir Shah, lending credence to the Taliban accusation that the

Hundreds demonstrate in Pakistan againt anti-Taliban UN sanctions
MULTAN, Pakistan, Jan 24 (AFP) - Hundreds of people rallied here Wednesday to condemn United Nations sanctions imposed last week against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban for their alleged support of terrorism.

Body blow for Afghan boxers
Afghan fighters are already out of the international ring - By Kate Clarke BBC
A Taleban leader has ordered all boxers in Afghanistan to avoid punching each other in the head or face. The Taleban Sports Minister, Qalamuddin, said such punches were illegal under Islamic law.

Titanic craze wins Afghan barbers jail
Thursday, January 25 3:03 PM SGT
KABUL, Jan 25 (AFP) - Afghanistan's religious police have thrown dozens of barbers into prison in a bid to stop the craze for the Hollywood blockbuster "Titanic" and fashionable Leonardo DiCaprio haircuts, hairdressers said.

Titanic cut clampdown in Kabul - BBC
Leonardo DiCaprio sparks a craze for Titanic haircuts
Barbers in Afghanistan have been jailed for giving customers a haircut styled after Leonardo DiCaprio in the film Titanic.
Officers in the Taleban militia have arrested 28 barbers across the city of Kabul.