September 19, 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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  U.S. seeks target info from anti-Taliban alliance


NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN (CNN) --Contacts between the U.S. and the Afghanistan's anti-Taliban Northern Alliance have increased to "frantic" levels, senior Alliance officials have told CNN.

Afghans in Anti-U.S. Protest at Pakistan Border
By Ovais Subhani
Wednesday September 19 4:14 PM ET
CHAMAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Up to 5,000 Afghans staged a tense anti-U.S. protest at the border Wednesday as reinforced Pakistani forces laid barbed wire to block them from crossing the frontier.

Opposition warlords prepare for their big chance
Fighters pledge support for US campaign
Luke Harding in Islamabad
Wednesday September 19, 2001
The Guardian
Afghanistan's powerful opposition warlords have promised substantial military assistance and logistical support to any American invasion force that attempts to topple the Taliban's Islamist regime.

US deploys forces, rallies coalition for anti-terrorism war
Thursday September 20, 4:32 AM
WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (AFP) - The United States readied for war Wednesday, deploying military forces as President George W. Bush rallied a multinational coalition and told Afghanistan's ruling Taliban

U.N. says at least 5 million Afghans risk famine
By David Brough
Thursday September 20, 3:37 AM
ROME (Reuters) - Afghanistan is teetering on the brink of widespread famine with nearly a quarter of its people desperately short of food and food aid stocks running out fast, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

CNN asked to leave Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN'S ruling Taliban has asked CNN to leave the country, the US television news channel said on Wednesday.

Taliban head calls for talks with US on bin Laden
 ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said on Wednesday he was prepared to hold talks with the United States over Osama bin Laden, the Pakistan-based

Pakistan's leader fears 'destruction' -BBC
Pakistan's leader, General Pervez Musharraf, has gone on television to address the nation, to explain his decision to back United States' action against Osama Bin Laden.

White House tells the Taliban it wants action not words
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday told Afghanistan's ruling Taliban it wanted action, not negotiations after the Taliban reportedly

Opposition fate unsure after Masood's death
Frontier Post
PESHAWAR: The killing of the Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Masood has plunged the opposition into uncertainty.

Afghan refugees in Iran despair for home from afar
TEHRAN, Sept 19 (AFP) - Like many Afghan refugees in Iran, bricklayer Mohammad Qadir Ibrahimi is scared any US-led strikes against his country

Rafsanjani sends condolences to Rabbani on Masood's death
Tehran, Sept 18, IRNA -- Head of Iran's Expediency Council Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in a message Tuesday sent condolences to the President

The Taleban military machine
By BBC Defence Correspondent Jonathan Marcus
Drawing up a military balance between the United States with its colossal firepower and Afghanistan's Taleban with their increasingly ageing stock-pile

Afghan refugees start to flood into Pakistan: UN
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (AFP) - At least 15,000 refugees have fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan in the past week, fearing a massive attack by the United States

US wants to enter Kabul: Hikmatyar
F P ReportPESHAWAR: The Afghanistan Hezb e Islami chief, Gulbudeen Hikmatyar has said that if United States attack Afghanistan we will stand

Taliban calls for U.S. patience, bin Laden proof
By Jack Redden and Peter Millership
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The leader of Afghanistan's Islamic Taliban movement appealed to the United States on Wednesday for patience in its call for Osama bin Laden to be handed

Taliban mobilise troops as Afghanistan braces for US onslaught
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sept 19 (AFP) - Taliban troops appear to be readying for a US military onslaught in retaliation for their harbouring of alleged terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, fleeing refugees told AFP Wednesday.

Afghan opposition keep Taliban out of impregnable Panjshir Valley
MALASPA, Afghanistan, Sept 19 (AFP) - Rusting wrecks of Soviet tanks litter the landscape in the strategic Panjshir Valley, a reminder of repeated failed attempts by the Red Army to capture this mountainous enclave.

U.N. envoy warns Taliban to cooperate
By Jack Redden
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The U.N. envoy to Afghanistan warned the Taliban on Wednesday they face grave risks if they do not accept international demands to hand over Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden.

Pakistan Muslims say will obey Afghan jihad order
ISLAMABAD, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The head of a grouping of 35 Pakistani Islamic organisations said on Wednesday they would have to obey any Taliban order for a religious war if the United States attacked Afghanistan.

Iran urges cautious response to U.S. attacks
By Jon Hemming
TEHRAN, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Iran's President Mohammad Khatami has written to British Prime Minister Tony Blair urging caution in response to last week's attacks in the United States, Iranian state radio said on Wednesday.

Saudi prince flies to U.S. for talks on attacks
By Rawhi Abeidoh
DUBAI, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia sent its foreign minister and senior security officials to Washington on Wednesday to help in U.S. efforts to track down those behind last week's suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

Afghan strikes looming, US and Russia engage in Central Asia tug of war
TASHKENT, Sept 19 (AFP) - A tussle for influence was raging in Central Asian republics neighboring Afghanistan on Wednesday as regional regimes chose between keeping in line with their old mentor Moscow

Song and dance as Afghans land on tiny Nauru
By Derek Pascoe
AIWO, Nauru, Sept 19 (Reuters) - About 100 mostly Afghan asylum seekers stepped ashore on the tiny Pacific island of Nauru on Wednesday, welcomed by singing and dancing, after a three-week voyage

Kabul checkpoints stem refugee exodus
Wednesday, 19 September, 2001, 07:25 GMT 08:25 UK BBC News
Some reached Pakistan despite the border closure
Afghanistan's Taleban authorities have imposed a blockade on the capital Kabul to citizens from fleeing.
Thousands of people are trying to leave the country amid fears of US strikes, but neighbouring states are closing their borders.

Embassies act on Pakistan unrest
Wednesday, 19 September, 2001, 10:48 GMT 11:48 UK BBC News
Western embassies in Pakistan have ordered the families of diplomats and non-essential staff to leave the capital, Islamabad.