October 20, 2001

American troops clash with Taleban
BBC News
US special forces have launched a commando raid in Afghanistan - the first combat operation on the ground since air strikes began on 7 October. Pentagon officials said around 100 elite troops backed

Taliban say want opposition to join forces
By Sayed Salahuddin
KABUL, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban wants to bury the hatchet with its longtime foes in the opposition and launch a joint defence against U.S. attacks, Education Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi

As APEC summit opens, Bush assails Afghanistan
By Andrew Browne
SHANGHAI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - After an appeal by U.S. President George W. Bush to join forces against "murderers with global reach," Pacific Rim leaders on Saturday opened a summit in Shanghai

Taliban minister, Pakistan discuss future govt
ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (Reuters) - A pivotal Taliban minister who holds the tribal affairs portfolio met on Saturday with Pakistani Foreign Ministry and talks touched on a future broadbased

Powerful Afghan minister vows long guerrilla war
By Scott McDonald ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - One of the Taliban's most powerful ministers, accused of "ethnic cleansing" in the past, warned during a mysterious visit to Pakistan of a long guerrilla

Minister's Visit Hints at Taliban Splits
By Scott McDonald
Saturday October 20 9:38 AM ET
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - One of the Taliban's most powerful ministers has discussed the previously unthinkable with Pakistan officials -- the possible make-up of an Afghan government should the

Afghan Opposition complains over US team in Afghanistan
The News: Jang
KABUL: An eight-man US military team is on the ground in northern Afghanistan, an anti-Taliban commander said on Friday, but he warned its presence could split, rather than help

Taleban force aid agency to close
BBC News
One of the largest aid agencies operating in Afghanistan has said members of the Taleban have looted its offices in five cities, beating some local staff and forcing them to stop operations.

Small bomb explodes at Islamabad airport
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A small bomb found at Islamabad airport on Saturday exploded harmlessly on nearby waste ground after being removed by security officers, Pakistani police said.

Russia and China back fast Afghan political deal
By Patrick Lannin and Jeremy Page SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Russia and China said on Saturday they supported an end to the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan as soon as possible so a coalition

UN Afghan envoy to visit region soon -U.S. official
By Elaine Monaghan
SHANGHAI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's point man on Afghanistan plans to visit the region for talks on the country's future should the U.S.-led campaign succeed in driving

U.S., Iran agree on need to oust Taliban from Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Kyodo) - The United States and Iran have agreed on the need to oust Afghanistan's ruling Taliban from power in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York

US helicopter targeted by Taliban forces: spokesman
Islamabad, Oct 20, IRNA -- A U.S. helicopter which crashed in Pakistan in the wee hours of Saturday was targeted inside Afghanistan by Taliban forces, a Taliban spokesman here said.

No Evidence Taliban Shot Down U.S. Chopper-Official
Saturday, October 20, 2001 9:09 AM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. official on Saturday rejected a Taliban claim that its forces might have shot down an American helicopter that crashed in Pakistan while supporting a strike

Supreme council to fill political vacuum: Zahir envoy
Islamabad, Oct. 20, IRNA -- A Supreme Council of National Unity will be formed to fill a political vacuum after the U.S.-led coalition's objectives are achieved, said Afghanistan's former foreign minister

Chaos as Afghans flee bombed city
Friday, 19 October, 2001, 18:41 GMT 19:41 UK BBC News
Many new arrivals had to pay smugglers
Refugees have been flooding out of Afghanistan in terror at continued US strikes.
More than 3,500 Afghans poured into the border town of Chaman on Friday after fleeing heavy bombing in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.

U.S. Raids Flatten Kandahar Bazaars, Civilians Hurt
Saturday, October 20, 2001 11:25 AM EST
CHAMAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Afghan refugees fleeing U.S. air raids said on Saturday the strikes destroyed shopping bazaars in the heart of the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar

Afghanistan Best Interests
It seems the whole world, including the Taliban, is waving the flag of Afghan nationalism
By Ahmed Rashid/ISLAMABAD
Far Eastern Economic Review
Issue cover-dated October 25, 2001
NORTH OF KABUL in the Panjshir valley, leaders of the opposition United Front met for a critical all-day meeting on October 14 to map their plans for seizing the capital. Commanders were pushing

Pakistan extends air support to US
Friday, 19 October, 2001, 19:25 GMT 20:25 UK BBC News
Pakistan insists the bases are only for logistical use
Pakistani officials have confirmed that the United States has been given permission to use another of the country's air bases.

Two German pro-Taliban activists detained in Pakistan - press
 Berlin, Oct 20, IRNA -- The German foreign minstry confirmed here Friday evening a newspaper report saying two German nationals, accused of cooperating with the Taliban militia or the Al-Qaida

Zahir Shah's team completes discussions, may leave today
Islamabad, Oct 20, IRNA -- Former Afghan king Zahir Shah's three-member team on Saturday wound up discussions to solicit views and ideas towards paving way for a broad-based set-up in Afghanistan.

Contradictory reports on Afghan General Dostam in Indian media
New Delhi, Oct 20, IRNA -- Contradictory reports on Afghan opposition warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostam have appeared in the Indian media on Saturday.

Bin Laden 'received UN cash'
Saturday, 20 October, 2001, 15:07 GMT 16:07 UK BBC News
Charities worldwide responded to the Sudan's famine
A BBC investigation has revealed that the United Nations funded the work of a charity believed by the United States to be a front organisation for Osama Bin Laden.

Malaysian allegedly detained by Northern Alliance forces
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 20, IRNA -- The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has directed its missions in Tehran, Islamabad and Tashkent to check and confirm news reports that a Malaysian is being detained by the Northern Alliance

Arab Militants in Afghanistan on the Run Again
Saturday, October 20, 2001 9:41 AM EST
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - They come from places ranging from Chechnya to the Philippines, from Sudan to China, many already on the run from the law and find themselves pursued again in Afghanistan.

Pak woman leader urges urgent help for Afghan women
Islamabad, Oct 20, IRNA -- A senior woman leader of a Pakistani party on Saturday made an appeal to women across the globe, particularly among the Muslim ummah, to contribute towards

Rs 5 billion credit on line for future Afghan government
New Delhi, Oct 20, IRNA -- India last night announced a Rs 5 billion credit line for any post-conflict broad-based government in Afghanistan, said Press Trust of India (PTI).

Opposition Says Cedes Ground to Taliban in North
By Zeeshan Haider
Saturday October 20 9:11 AM ET
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Fighters of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have gained ground in fighting against opposition troops battling for days to advance on the key northern town of Mazar-i-Sharif,

Young Pakistanis cross border to aid Taliban
2,000 believed to have enlisted as mujahideen
By Karl Penhaul, Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe / 10/19/2001
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - US-led forces are not the only ones preparing for a ground war in Afghanistan
Hundreds, and probably thousands, of disenchanted young Pakistani men are responding to the call to join the Taliban-declared holy war against the United States, despite their government's order to stay home.

Short says ousting Taliban is best aid
Minister's firm line puts her in opposition to relief agencies
Rory McCarthy in Islamabad
Friday October 19, 2001
The Guardian
Clare Short, the outspoken international development secretary, last night found herself at odds with a widening array of aid agencies and human rights groups as she ruled out any humanitarian pause

U.S. special forces in Afghanistan as Taliban stand firm
By Alan Elsner and Sayed Salahuddin
Saturday October 20, 2:00 AM
WASHINGTON/KABUL (Reuters) - The United States on Friday widened its efforts to stir up a revolt in Afghanistan, sending elite commandos into the south of the country, but the ruling Taliban vowed

U.S. Aiding Anti-Taliban Groups, Rumsfeld Says
Friday, October 19, 2001 6:47 PM EST
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Friday the United States has provided anti-Taliban groups in Afghanistan with assistance

Anti-Taliban General Gets U.S. Help
Friday, October 19, 2001 1:53 PM EDT
MAHMOUD-E-RAQI, Afghanistan (AP) -- A general fighting with the northern alliance to rid his country of the ruling Taliban said Friday his forces spent the last week with American military officials

UN Says Afghans Flee Air Strikes, Rush for Pakistan
By John Fullerton
Friday October 19 4:12 PM ET
QUETTA (Reuters) - About 3,500 Afghans fled across the border to Pakistan Friday after heavy overnight strikes on targets in and around Kandahar city caused panic among civilians, U.N. officials said.

Eyewitnesses: Civilian death toll much lower
October 19, 2001 P - By Christiane Amanpour
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Local Afghan employees of an international aid agency claimed that a total of 10 civilians had been killed as a result of the U.S. bombing campaign in Kabul.

U.S. 'Snake Eaters' to Spearhead Ground Assault
Friday, October 19, 2001 4:38 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Special operations forces -- the so-called ``snake eaters'' of the U.S. military -- are trained and equipped for clandestine combat ranging from nighttime snatch-and-grabs

UK, Pakistan agree on future Afghan govt London writes off 20 million pound debt Operation to be completed soon: Short
Updated on 10/19/2001 - F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: British Secretary of State for International Development (DFID), Ms Clare Short has confirmed the reports regarding split in the Taliban's ranks and files on the issue of handing

Short clashes with aid agencies
BBC News
International Development Secretary Clare Short has outraged aid agencies by claiming their "spin doctors" are exaggerating the difficulty of getting supplies into Afghanistan.

'Panic' as Afghans enter Pakistan
BBC News
The United Nations refugee agency says more than 3,500 Afghans fled into Pakistan on Friday - the heaviest influx since the US began bombing Afghanistan.

Herat Governor summoned to Kandahar
Frontier Post Report
PESHAWAR: The Taliban Supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar has conveyed a special meeting of his close aides at his headquarter Kandahar.

Babar questions Leghari's credibility for any role on Afghanistan
Raja Assad Hameed - FP
Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Major General (Retd) Naseerullah Khan Babar has expressed his intense amusement as well as astonishment over reports regarding chief

Increased U.S. Activity Said to Aid Afghan Rebels
By THOM SHANKER and STEVEN LEE MYERS - NY Times
ASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- American Special Forces troops have been operating inside Afghanistan to support armed groups opposing the Taliban there, according to a senior military officer.

In Quiet Corners, the Roots of Afghan Rebellion
By DOUGLAS FRANTZ - NY Times
UETTA, Pakistan, Oct. 17 ¯ While bombs fall in Afghanistan, a quieter war is being waged in the dusty border city of Quetta and, farther north, in the mud-brick city of Peshawar.

Afghan Exiles Plan Strategy to Oust Taliban
By RONE TEMPEST - LA TIMES STAFF WRITER
October 19 2001
PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- In a heavily guarded walled compound here, Haji Mohammed Zaman presided Thursday over a war council of 100 black-bearded Pushtun commanders who

Hijack jet crew 'tortured by Taleban'
BBC News
Crew members of an Afghan airliner which was hijacked and flown to Britain were tortured by the Taleban on their return home, an Old Bailey jury heard on Friday.

Pak-US intelligence cooperation delivers results
By Kamran Khan The News: Jang (Pakistan) October 19, 2001
KARACHI: The secret services of Pakistan have reported an initial breakthrough in their efforts to minimise support for Mulla Omar and Osama Bin Laden within the Taliban administration

France Stresses Political Efforts on Afghan Issue
Friday, October 19, 2001 12:40 PM EST
PARIS, Oct 19, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- France attaches importance to efforts to reach a political solution of the Afghan issue together with Afghanistan's neighboring countries