March 29, 2001

Afghan massacre reports firm up
The human rights group, Amnesty International, has published what it says are eyewitness accounts of a massacre of about 300 men, women and children in Afghanistan. the Taleban

Afghanistan: Massacre in Yakaolang
Source: Amnesty International - Publish date: 28/03/2001
Amnesty International today issued a report on January's massacre of over 300 unarmed men and a number of civilian women and children by Taleban forces in Yakaolang, in Bamiyan province.

Woman publicly lashed in Afghanistan
KABUL, March 28 (AFP) - The ultra-orthodox Afghan Taliban militia has publicly lashed a woman accused of having sex outside marriage in the northern city of Sheberghan,

Anti-Taliban forces on offensive
By Ahmed Rashid in Dushanbe - The Daily Telegraph 3/29/01
THE anti-Taliban opposition in Afghanistan has launched a spring offensive after being reinforced over the winter by Russia, India and Iran.

Pak paper sees signs of split in Taliban ranks
Islamabad, March 28 (IRNA) -- A Pakistani newspaper on Wednesday said there were signs of split in the rank and file of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia. The Islamabad-based English daily,

Clinton was concerned about Pak support to Taliban
Times of India - 3/29/01
WASHINGTON: Pakistan's continued support to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban allowing the militia to harbour terrorists is a cause of concern for the United States, Bill Clinton said in his 'strategy'

Taliban denounced as 'inhuman fanatics'
GENEVA, March 28 (Jang) -- The Taliban are the "most inhuman manifestation of totalitarian fanaticism," the foreign minister of the United Nation recognised government of Afghanistan,

Taliban destroyed statues 'to mask sale'
The Daily Telegraph - 3/29/01
THE destruction by the Taliban of pre-Islamic statues, including the two Buddhas of Bamiyan, was a ploy to cover up the sale of 40 smaller figures, according to opponents.

S.Lanka Buddhists ask U.N. to mourn Afghan statues
COLOMBO, March 29 (Reuters) - A Sri Lankan Buddhist group on Thursday asked the United Nations to declare an international day of mourning for two giant Buddha statues that were

UNESCO to mobilise international community on Afghan heritage
NEW DELHI: UNESCO is determined to mobilise the international community to save "what remains of Afghanistan's Islamic and pre-Islamic" heritage even after the destruction

US intends to further improve ties with India
Times of India 3/29/01
WASHINGTON: The United States has said its relations with India have been "very good" and it intends to further improve them.

Pakistan to help Taliban in mine exploration
Islamabad, March 28 (IRNA) -- Pakistan will extend help to Taliban in the exploration of mines and installation of oil and gas refineries in Afghanistan. This was assured

LAHORE: Nisar Osmani award for journalist
DAWN
LAHORE, March 27: Journalist Ahmed Rashid was given on Sunday the Nisar Osmani award for his courage in journalism and for his book on Taliban written after his extensive tour of Afghanistan.

Afghan Disgust
AAR Editors' Note - 3/28/01:
We urge our readers to read the full text of Mr. Rashid's acceptance speech at the HRCP event and compare DAWN's

Afghan weavers unravel a trade tradition: opium use
By Scott Baldauf Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN, Mar 28, 2001 (The Christian Science Monitor via COMTEX) -- Every day, from dawn until just after midnight, Abdul Ghaffer leans over a loom, weaving

Pakistan is at risk of Talebanisation
A letter in Bangkok Post, 3/28/01
Re "Pakistan did not stand by idle" (Postbag, March 23), one must concede that Counsellor S. Iftikhar Hussain Shah is doing his job in defending the role of Pakistan in the Bamiyan