Vandals Of History Afghanistan's Taliban regime remains undeterred from its hard-line agenda of destroying historically valuable Buddhist idols. A look at the present regime and its slide to orthodox fundamentalism at a time when a drought has ravaged its economy and people.

Taking On the Family
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Yadav is once again facing a tough fight for survival--this time prompted by a near revolt in the RJD fuelled by rumours of a dynastic takeover. Ranjan Yadav has emerged as a potential rival to Rabri Devi, enjoying the support of both the party rebels and the NDA allies.

Chennai Confusion
The upshot of the great Tamil circus: Jayalalitha needs Moopanar, but not the Congress.

Creepy Acquisition
With Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha determined to bring corporate payslips comprehensively into the taxman's dragnet, the salaried class is having a few palpitations. For them, it means that a long era of tax-free emoluments is coming to an end.

"Indians lack unity"
Two of cricket's finest brains met for a rare conversation:Bishen Singh Bedi takes on the role of interviewer for Aaj Tak, seeking to get into the mind of Australian captain Stephen Waugh.

Revenge Of the Bears The sudden fall in share-prices points to yet another rigging controversy, and raises questions about the efficacy and credibility of SEBI as a regulator.

COVER STORY: AFGHANISTAN

A Strategy Punctured

Earlier, using unusually strong language, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee termed it an "act of shamelessness" being carried out by those "who were neither civilised nor true Muslims". Vajpayee's condemnation punctured the Taliban's strategy of trying to equate their action with that of the demolition of the Babri Masjid by Hindu fanatics in 1992. Other countries, including Afghanistan's closest ally Pakistan, joined the global outcry but it made little impact on Omar. He dismissed the pleas against the demolition as "drama" and in another broadcast over Radio Shariat stated, "The infidels want to rob Islam of its spirit. I would like to ask the world Muslims not to harmonise their voices with those of non-believers."

Ravages Of Jehad: Women have been one of the worst sufferers in the conflict

For most of the world, the Taliban's latest act defied comprehension. After all, the regime is struggling to cope with one of the worst droughts in 30 years which has affected almost half its 20 million people. Afghanistan needs at least 40 million tonnes of foodgrains to feed its starving populace but is now producing only 2 million. While the Taliban controls as much as 90 per cent of the country's territory, they are still at war with the resilient Ahmed Shah Masoud who heads the Northern Alliance forces controlling the strategic Panjsher valley. To the Taliban's ire, the UN continues to recognise the Northern Alliance as the representative of the Afghan Government. And the last thing one would have thought was for the Taliban to risk further international isolation through such despicable acts of vandalism.

MetroScape
Triple Act
What I would love to do more than anything else in the world is to write another play," says Gurcharan Das. "But I don't know if I have the courage." He should have dollops of it, going by the audience reaction to his 9 Jakhoo Hill--performed to mark the release of Three English Plays by Das --at Delhi's India Habitat Centre
last week.
more...

Looking Glass

Delhi and Mumbai: Adventure One Sport

Mumbai: Smooth Bar

Delhi: Good Earth Showroom

Polo, like many other events, is bringing about the resurgence of the almost forgotten royals. A chance, writes INDIA TODAY's Principal Correspondent Anshul Avijit, to say Maharaja again with an unctuous post-modernist gusto in Despatches.

"The only obvious competition is in bhangra," say the Pakistani duo of the music group, Strings, in conversation with INDIA TODAY's Sonia Faleiro in
Interviews.