September 17, 2001

	Our heartfelt condolences to the noble Afghan nation at this sensitive and testing time in its history for the loss of its brave son and defender, Ahmad Shah Massoud
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No US ill will toward Afghans, but time for bin Laden to leave: Powell
Tuesday September 18, 3:17 AM
WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (AFP) - The United States bears no ill will toward the people of Afghanistan but will punish the country's ruling Taliban militia unless it expels its guest, suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden

Allies supportive but wary over U.S. response
By Joelle Diderich
Tuesday September 18, 3:27 AM
PARIS (Reuters) - Washington's key allies have continued to pledge support for its war on terror but many are cool on strikes against Afghanistan and fear an escalation on religious or regional lines.

Bush wants bin Laden dead or alive as markets fall
By Alan Elsner and Michael Arkus
Tuesday September 18, 2:48 AM
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday the United States wanted Osama bin Laden "dead or alive" for last week's attacks on the United States that left more than 5,000

No Blank Check for U.S. Action From UN, NATO
Monday, September 17, 2001 6:00 PM EST
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - With the United States gearing up for a ``war against terrorism,'' some nations are gingerly pointing out that Washington does not have a blank check for military action

Afghans are moving to villages, borders for shelter: UNHCR
Islamabad, Sept 18, IRNA - A large number of people are on the move from Kandahar, Kabul and Jalalabad in Afghanistan.

UN prepares for major Afghan crisis
Monday, 17 September, 2001, 15:56 GMT 16:56 UK BBC News
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, is sending emergency staff to Pakistan and Iran in preparation for what it warns could become a major Afghan refugee crisis.

Bin Laden Said Likely Culprit in Masood Death
Monday, September 17, 2001 8:14 PM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The assassination of Afghan opposition leader Ahmad Shah Masood likely was carried out by associates of Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in last week's attacks

Afghan opposition calls for US support against Taliban
MALASPA, Afghanistan, Sept 17 (AFP) - The Afghan opposition has appealed to the United States, poised to retaliate against Afghanistan for the terrorist attacks

Pakistani delegation meets with Taliban leader
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Kyodo) - A Pakistani government delegation held talks with Afghanistan's supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Monday on surrendering

Taliban vows to shoot down planes flying over Afghanistan
MOSCOW, Sept. 17 (Kyodo) - Afghanistan's Taliban authority Monday banned and vowed to shoot down all foreign flights over its territory

Pakistan says time is running out for Taliban
ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan said on Monday that time was running for Afghanistan's Taliban government to hand over terror suspect Osama bin Laden and avoid retribution from the United States.

Russia consults former Soviets, ponders options on Afghanistan
MOSCOW, Sept 17 (AFP) - Moscow embarked on consultations with the leaders of  former Soviet republics Monday amid uncertainty as to the policy it would

Is Pakistan Taking The US for a Ride Again?
AAR Editorial - 09/17/2001
Reports from Pakistan indicate that the Taliban have deployed over 20,000 troops along the Pakistani border, and may also have installed missiles.

Taliban scholars to rule on bin Laden
KABUL, Sept 17 (AFP) - Islamic scholars from across Afghanistan will decide Tuesday whether or not to extradite Osama bin Laden in the face of a threat

Iran opposes US revenge against Afghanistan, seeks Muslim consensus
TEHRAN, Sept 17 (AFP) - Iran on Monday opposed any US military reprisal against Afghanistan and insisted the United Nations lead the fight against terrorism

Uzbekistan ready to discuss cooperation with US
TASHKENT, Sept 17 (AFP) - Uzbekistan indicated Monday it might be prepared to allow its territory to be used by the United States to carry out a possible

Iran's Khatami says UN should lead fight against terrorism
TEHRAN, Sept 17 (AFP) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Monday the fight against terrorism should be handled by the United Nations and warned

Pakistan Officials Go to Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Kyodo) - A delegation of Pakistani officials trying to head off a U.S. attack on Afghanistan arrived in the heart of Taliban territory Monday t

Taliban deploys 20-25,000 troops near Pakistan
KHYBER PASS, Pakistan, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have deployed a force of between 20,000 ad 25,000 fighters just across the border from

Taliban brace air defences, hide bin Laden -source
DUSHANBE, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have closed the country's airspace and placed air defences on alert in view of possible strikes by the United States

Tens of thousands of Afghans flee cities: UNHCR
GENEVA, Sept 17 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Afghans are leaving Afghanistan's major cities, including Kabul, to seek refuge in the countryside, the UN's refugee agency said on Monday.

Tense days in Kabul as US attack looms
KABUL, Sept 17 (AFP) - Afghans were desperate for news Monday as their secretive Taliban rulers held talks with Pakistani officials on whether to extradite Osama bin Laden

US strikes on Afghanistan could light regional tinder-box
NEW DELHI, Sept 17 (AFP) - A US military strike on Afghanistan carries the tangible risk of an extended conflict in a region already riven by bilateral tensions and seemingly

Pakistan in last-ditch bid to persuade Taliban to give up bin Laden
KABUL, Sept 17 (AFP) - Pakistan on Monday launched a last-ditch effort to persuade Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to hand over Osama bin Laden and avert a US military attack

Pakistan divided as it puts pressure on Taliban
By Jack Redden
ISLAMABAD, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan's army said on Monday that Afghanistan's Taliban rulers have deployed a force of between 20,000 and 25,000 fighters just across

Afghanistan - a tough military option
By BBC Eurasia analyst Malcolm Haslett
Superpowers of the past - from Imperial Britain to the Soviet Union - have found that military involvement in Afghanistan is full of danger.

Abandon hope all who enter Afghanistan
The New Zealand Herald
17.09.2001 ROBERT FISK recounts a lesson of history: Afghanistan always beats its invaders.
On the heights of the Kabul Gorge, they still find ancient belt buckles and corroded sword hilts.
You can no longer read the insignia of the British regiments of the old East India Company but their bones - those of all 16,000 of them - still lie somewhere amid the dark earth and scree of the most forbidding

Racist attack on Afghan taxi driver - BBC
Police are investigating a racial attack - in which remarks were made about the atrocities in the US - which left an Afghan minicab driver paralysed.