May 9, 2001

The Battle of Maiwand Ali A. Jalali

64 Islamic Extremism in Former Soviet Republics  Gregory R. Sarafian

Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan U.S. Department of State Briefing

The Fires of Faith in Central Asia Ahmed Rashid

List of  foreign Taliban prisoners of war captured by the United Front

Heavy fighting resumes in northern Afghanistan: opposition
KABUL, May 9 (AFP) - Heavy fighting resumed in northern Afghanistan Wednesday as the ruling Taliban militia launched a pre-dawn offensive against a key opposition-held area, opposition officials said.

Anti-Taliban forces say capture key Afghan gorge
ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's opposition said on Wednesday they had pushed back the Taliban and captured a key gorge in the northern province of Takhar, near the Tajikistan border.

UN to close four political offices in Afghanistan
By Evelyn Leopold
UNITED NATIONS, May 8 (Reuters) - The United Nations this month intends to close a network of political offices in Afghanistan as demanded by the ruling Taliban but leave open its

Pakistan denies pushing back Afghans, calls for emergency aid
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (AFP) - Pakistan Tuesday said it had no plan to push back uprooted Afghans who have already arrived here but urged the international community to address

EU donates two millions dollars for uprooted Afghans
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (AFP) - The European Union has approved 2.6 million euros (about two million dollars) in humanitarian aid for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and internally displaced people

UNHCR cuts humanitarian aid for Afghanistan
GENEVA, May 8 (AFP) - A decline in donor support has forced the UN refugee agency to cut humanitarian aid to Afghanistan this year to around eight dollars (nine euros) for each person

Pakistan condemns attack on Iranian consulate in western Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, May 8 (AFP) - Pakistan Tuesday condemned a mob attack on an Iranian consulate after a bomb blast in the western Afghan city of Herat and urged Taliban rulers to

Taliban arrests Afghan infiltrators with Iranian weapons
KABUL, May 8 (AFP) - The Taliban authorities in western Afghanistan have busted an 11-member gang of alleged saboteurs and recovered Iranian weapons, the ruling militia's official daily

Pak Interior Minister asks police not to harass Afghans
Islamabad, May 8, IRNA -- Pakistan Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider Tuesday directed the police not to harass Afghan refugees who have documents for stay in Pakistan.

2,000 Afghans stranded in Gulf jails due to UN sanctions: Taliban
ABU DHABI, May 8 (AFP) - More than 2,000 Afghans slapped with deportation orders are stranded in jails of Gulf Arab states because of the UN air embargo on Afghanistan, the country's

UNHCR chief renews ceasefire offer, Taliban reject the call
 Islamabad, May 8, IRNA - The UN refugee agency chief Ruud Lubbers Tuesday renewed his appeal for ceasefire in Afghanistan, saying that cessation of hostilities

Afghan refugees
The Nation Editorial 5/9/01
UNITED Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers has not accepted the demand by Islamabad that the UN provide humanitarian assistance to displaced Afghans inside

Cricket begins life in war-torn Afghanistan
Times of India
TORKHAM: War-weary Afghanistan sent its first cricket team on its first tour on Tuesday. The cricketers had to push and shove their way to the giant steel gates that separates the two countries.

Musharraf to visit US in July
The Nation 5/9/01
General Pervez Musharraf will visit the United States in July in an attempt to intensify efforts for getting American sanctions against Pakistan lifted, reported Zee News on Tuesday.

Bush invites Musharraf for US trip: Media
The Times of India
ISLAMABAD: US President George W Bush has invited Pakistan's Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, for a five-day visit to Washington in July to discuss political, economic

'Nawaz, Benazir can return by paying back loot'
Durani: Taliban entitled to Rule
RIYADH (NNI)–Ambassador of Pakistan to Saudi Arabia Lt. Gen. (Retd) Asad Durrani has said that both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto could be allowed to come to Pakistan if they return