May 19, 2001

Heat kills 25 Afghan children at Pakistani camp
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (Reuters) - A heat wave has killed more than 25 Afghan children at an overcrowded make-shift refugee camp in northwestern Pakistan over the past two weeks, the U.N.

UN Accuses Taleban of Hampering Relief Operations
VOA News
18 May 2001 19:00 UTC
The United Nations accused Afghanistan's Taleban militia Friday of hampering relief operations in that country by arresting some U.N. aid workers and keeping them out of some areas where help is urgently needed.

Taliban Creates Obstacles for Aid Community in Afghanistan: U.N. Office
Friday, May 18, 2001 4:09 PM EST
UNITED NATIONS, May 18, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The aid community is facing increasing obstacles from Taliban authorities in carrying out its work in Afghanistan, and the Taliban

US criticizes Pakistan for treatment of Afghan refugees in Jalozai
WASHINGTON, May 17 (AFP) - The United States on Thursday hit out at Pakistan for its treatment of Afghan refugees currently housed at a makeshift camp in the town of Jalozai.

Afghan Taliban raid hospital, saying men, women seen together
KABUL, May 18 (AFP) - Taliban religious polices quads on Thursday raided an Italian-funded surgical hospital in the Afghan capital for alleged illegal mixing of male and female personnel, hospital staff said Friday.

U.N. calls for Afghan polio immunisation truce
ISLAMABAD, May 18 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Friday urged Afghanistan's warring parties to observe a three-day ceasefire from Saturday to allow the country's children to be immunised against polio.

Taliban's Violations of the Current Round of UNICEF-Proposed Ceasefire for Polio Vaccinations
News Brief
Friday, May 18, 2001
The Pakistani-backed Taliban violated the six-day ceasefire for polio vaccinations, proposed by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and in effect as of yesterday, by  launching major

Opposition ally Ismael Khan returns to Afghanistan from Iran
KABUL, May 17 (AFP) - Ismael Khan, a former gove rnor of western Herat province and a key opposition ally, has returned from Iran amid anti-Taliban plans to launch an new offensive against the ruling militia,

Iran's third humanitarian package distributed among Afghans
Dushanbe, May 18 - IRNA -- The third humanitarian assistance consignment of Iran was distributed among thousands of Afghan refugees taking refuge along the Afghan-Tajikistan border near the Panj river.

US Afghan policy changes subtly
Ahson Saeed Hasan says Washington's grim mood on Afghanistan may be changing
Friday, 18-May-2001 - The Friday Times
ISLAMABAD, While US officials deny that the Bush Administration might be changing tack on Afghanistan by moving towards the logic of engaging the Taliban, indications are that Washington is seriously

Lifting of economic sanctions advocated: US official for better ties between India and Pakistan
By Tahir Mirza - DAWN
WASHINGTON, May 18: Describing Pakistan and India as the "two anchors of South Asia", US Assistant Secretary of State-designate Christina B. Rocca on Thursday expressed her belief that sanctions

Govt may ban militant groups of religious parties: Moin
The News Jang
PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider on Friday said the government is planning to introduce strict law to keep a check on militant wings of religious outfits, which may also be banned

German secret service chief warns of "Bin laden" terror acts
Berlin, May 19, IRNA -- The head of Germany's domestic intelligence service, Verfassungsschutz, warned in light of the latest violent escalations in the Middle East, of imminent radical terrorist attacks

Swimming pool makes splash in Kabul
BBC
For the first time since the Taleban government came to power in 1996, a swimming pool has been opened in the Afghan capital Kabul. The pool is in the grounds of the Intercontinental