TATAR-TALIBAN TALKS ON RELEASE OF AIRLINER CREW SHOW SIGNS OF HOPE.

An envoy of Tatar president Mintimer Shaymiyev, in Pakistan for negotiations with the Afghan Taliban opposition on the release of the Russian crew of the Tatarstan-registered airliner, announced August 31 that the Taliban are ready to negotiate "in principle." Talks are scheduled to continue September 2 in Kandahar. The crew are in good physical and psychological shape and are not being mistreated, the envoy said.

Regional Security Developments.