1.   As the United States prepared for war, the ruling Taliban militia in Afghanistan warned it would avenge any attacks against Afghanistan for harboring bin Laden.

2.   At one point in the erratic journey, they ordered the pilot to fly to Afghanistan but the ruling Taliban militia refused to allow the plane to land.

3.   Both the Indians and the hijackers are under intense pressure from the ruling Taliban militia in Afghanistan to make a deal and end the week old crisis.

4.   After he learned to shoot a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, he was deployed alongside his religious kinsmen, the ruling Taliban militia, to fight the opposition Northern Alliance.

5.   Bush also intensified his warnings to the Taliban, repeating his call for the ruling militia in Afghanistan to turn over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden or face consequences.

6.   But Zaeef, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, reportedly said the request was not initiated by the ruling militia.

7.   Opium poppy production in Afghanistan looks likely to increase this year, Arlacchi said, but the ruling Taliban militia is showing more willingness to help reverse the trend.

8.   Pakistan is one of only three countries with diplomatic links to the ruling Taliban militia in neighboring Afghanistan, which has harbored bin Laden.

9.   The accused terrorist is believed to be living in Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban militia is his host.

10.   The administration has carefully distinguished between the civilian population and the ruling militia in hopes of isolating the Taliban, as well as garnering support from Arab nations.