The attached pages from Afghanistan: A Country Study, Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide and Encyclopedia of the Third World provide general information on Ittehad-e-Islami and its political and ideological orientations.

The attached 16 February 1995 Deutsche Presse-Agentur article refers to negotiations between the Ittehad-e-Islami and the Taleban over the future of Pagham area west of Kabul.

The attached 16 March 1995 and 16 October 1995 Xinhua reports provide information on the Taliban's attacks on Pagham area, which is the stronghold of the Ittehad-e-Islami

The attached 3 February 1995 Deutsche Presse-Agentur and 5 May 1996 Xinhua reports refer to the Ittehad-e-Islami leader's meetings with the officials of the Hizbe Islami and with Pakistani officials, respectively.

According to a representative of the Afghan Association of Toronto, after the seizure of Khandehr by the Taleban, the Ittehad-e-Islami engaged in fighting with the Taliban in 1995, but its relations with the Taleban have been "friendly" since that time (31 Dec. 1996). The DIRB does not have corroborating information on this issue.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Afghan Association of Toronto, 31 December 1996. Telephone interview with representative.

Afghanistan: A Country Study. 1986. Edited by Richard F. Nyrop and Donald M. Seekins. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army, pp. 278, 336-37.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 3. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts on File, p. 7.

Islam and Islamic Groups: A Worldwide Reference Guide. Edited by Farzana Shaikh. New York: Longman Current Affairs, p. 6.

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 16 February 1995. BC Cycle. "Taleban Militia Enters Eastern Kabul as Hekmatyar Launches Attack." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 February 1995. BC Cycle. "Afghan Factions Stumble Through Peace Talks." (NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 16 October 1995. "Taliban Claims More Victories." (NEXIS)

_____. 5 May 1996. "Afghan Government Delegation to Visit Pakistan." (NEXIS)

_____. 16 March 1995. "Taliban Opens New Front in Kabul." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International country file (Afghanistan). 1994-96.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 1995-96.

DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. 1995-96.

Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. 1995-96.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1994-96.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1995-96.

Middle East International [London]. 1994-96

On-line search of news articles.