March 24, 2001

ALERT: Afghan Treasures in Danger


The Guardian Reports: "Western experts now fear that the Taliban are melting down Afghanistan's fabled Bactrian treasures - 20,000 gold objects about 2,000 years old.

UN Sanctions against Taliban not hurting Afghans
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Reuters) - The United Nations found that new U.N. sanctions against the Taliban had little impact on the lives of ordinary Afghans,

Bin Laden group gaining power
Thursday, 22 March 2001 21:27 (ET)
WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI) -- Saudi terrorism suspect Osama bin Laden appears to have come out on top of a power struggle and has moved some of his backers

China seeks Pak help to locate Chinese rebels in Taliban camps
Islamabad, March 23, IRNA -- China has sought the help of Pakistan to locate its Muslim rebels in training camps in Taliban controlled areas of Afghanistan.

Kabul collection - Taliban unlock museum to show destroyed statues
Luke Harding in Islamabad
Guardian (UK)Friday March 23, 2001
Journalists toured Afghanistan's national museum in Kabul yesterday to see the results of the Taliban's destruction of statues.

Bamyan Buddha statue 'completely destroyed': local doctor
TOKYO, March 24 (Kyodo) - A Japanese doctor in Pakistan said Saturday he has confirmed the destruction of two world-famous Buddha statues in

Up to half of Afghan children suffer stunted growth: UNICEF
GENEVA, March 23 (AFP) - Between 40 and 50 percent of children in Afghanistan suffer from stunted growth due to chronic deprivation and malnutrition,

Osama to mediate between Taliban, Hekmatyar
Islamabad, March 23, IRNA -- A Pakistani daily on Friday reported that Osama bin Laden had agreed to mediate between Taliban and the Hizb-e-Islami chief,

Pak for reform plan to control Islamic seminaries
Times of India
ISLAMABAD: Faced with world community's pressure to crackdown on over 15,000 militant Islamic seminaries dotting nooks and corners of Pakistan

An act of desecration
A H Jaffor Ullah - The Daily Star
The entire civilized world was stunned hearing the news of Buddha statue demolition by the Taliban regime of Kabul. Of special interest to rest of the world was

Baseless Allegations by Jane's Intelligence Review
Washington - March 23: The Office of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in Washington, DC rejects the claim by Jane's Intelligence Review that foreign fighters

UNESCO condemns reported burning of Koran in India
Saturday March 24, 2:52 PM
ISLAMABAD, March 24 (AFP) - The UN cultural organisation on Saturday condemned a reported incident in which the Muslim holy book was burned by Hindu hardliners

As Taliban Gear up for Spring Offensives, United Front Opens New Battle-fronts
Bin Laden and Extremists' Role on the Rise Within Taliban
WASHINGTON, Mar. 23, 2001 - AAR - In response to a major increase in Taliban military capabilities to unleash a definitive offensive this spring, Afghan resistance

Afghan feminists go online
BBC News
RAWA wants to publicise the plight of Afghan women
A group of Afghan feminists have turned to the internet to draw attention to atrocities and human rights abuses committed against women under Taleban rule.