January 4, 2000

Iran: Defence minister interviewed on Iran's defence policy BBC Monitoring Service - United Kingdom; Dec 30, 2000

Profile of Foreign Policy 2000  By Tanvir Ahmad Khan DAWN (01 January 2001)

Afghan Taliban clash with opposition fighters near Tajik border
DUSHANBE, Jan 3 (AFP) - Afghan Taliban troops clashed Tuesday with opposition fighters in the country's north, near the Tajik border, Russian border guards reported.

Afghan opposition eyeing on Bamyan airport
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The Afghan Opposition Northern Alliance forces are preparing to capture Bamyan airport to further consolidate their position in the central Afghan province.

Taliban Kills Food Suppliers to Opposition Areas - People Daily
KABUL, Jan 3 - To block supply to the people living in opposition controlled areas, Taliban authorities have directed soldiers to fire at the people smuggling goods along with their animals of transport, local newspaper The News reported on Wednesday.

Thousands of displaced Afghans stranded at Tajik border: UN
KABUL, Jan 3 (AFP) - Thousands of displaced Afghans are living under mounting hardship along the country's border with Tajikistan, which has been requested by the United Nations

Six Afghan drug traffickers killed during shootout with Iran police
TEHRAN, Jan 3 (AFP) - Six Afghan drug traffickers were killed during a military operation in the Khaf region, in eastern Iran, state radio said Wednesday.

Pak envoy, Afghan Minister discuss Moin's visit
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Arif Ayub has discussed with Afghan Interior Minister Mulla Abdul Razak Akhund the proposed visit to Afghanistan by Interior

Achakzai for sanctions on countries interfering in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD (NNI): The leader of Pukhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) Mehmood Khan Achakzai has urged the United Nations to impose sanctions on the countries that are interfering in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

Chinese team in Kabul for power projects
KABUL (NNI) - A Chinese delegation has arrived in Kabul to assess thesituation of helping Taliban in revival of hydel power projects.

Trial opens in first US effort to punish bin Laden's group
NEW YORK, Jan 3 (AFP) - Wednesday marked the first opportunity for the United States to take on the organization led by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden as the trial of four men charged in the 1998 US embassy bombings opened.

Jhangvi militant owns killing of an Iranian official
Islamabad, Jan. 3, IRNA -- A top militant of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi  has acknowledged responsibility for the killing of the director of  Khana-e-Farhang Multan Dr. Muhammad Ali Rahimi and several other Shia

Musharraf to leave for 3 Gulf States visit on 7th
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf's proposed visit to three Gulf States is aimed at to strengthen economic relations with the friendly Muslim countries.

Pakistan wants to join Shanghai Five - By Umer Farooq The News Int.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan formally showed interest in joining the Shanghai Five Group -- a collective security arrangement that serves as the prime security arrangement of Central Asian nations

Money motive behind Afghans' New Year bloodbath: investigators
BERLIN, Jan 3 (AFP) - A dispute over inheritance is thought to have led to a murderous New Year's morning bloodbath in a Berlin apartment in which two men and a mother of four children died, investigators said Wednesday.

Odds mounting against Taliban - Frontier Post editorial 1/4/01
The Afghan opposition forces have made some tactical gains against theTaliban militia in the Ghor province. In fact, they have registered their second victory in a weekís time, which is significant.

Ousting the govt of Taliban - By Dr. Jassim Taqui (Opinion) 1/4/01
Exploiting the tense relations between Taliban and the United States overthe issue of Osama bin Laden and terrorism, Moscow is combining with India and Iran to work out a blue prin