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DATE=8/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236418
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN AFGHANISTAN, THE TALEBAN SAY THEY ARE ADVANCING TOWARD
THE MAIN NORTHERN CITY OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF AFTER TAKING CONTROL OF 
A NORTHERN ALLIANCE STRONGHOLD.  SARAH HORNER REPORTS NORTHERN 
ALLIANCE REINFORCEMENTS ARE ARRIVING IN MAZAR-E-SHARIF, PREPARING
TO DEFEND THE CITY.
TEXT:  INDEPENDENT SOURCES TELL V-O-A AN ESTIMATED THREE-THOUSAND
NORTHERN ALLIANCE TROOPS HAVE ARRIVED IN MAZAR-E-SHARIF AND ARE 
BELIEVED TO BE DIGGING IN AROUND THE CITY.
SOURCES SAY THE CITY IS QUIET, BUT SHELLING CAN BE HEARD IN THE 
DISTANCE.
REPORTS VARY AS TO WHERE THE TALEBAN FORCES ARE, BUT THEY ARE 
CLEARLY HEADING TOWARD THE WESTERN SIDE OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF. 
// OPT //  THERE IS  NO  INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION, BUT THE AFGHAN
ISLAMIC PRESS AGENCY ALSO QUOTES TALEBAN OFFICIALS AS SAYING THEY
HAVE OPENED UP A SECOND FRONT ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CITY IN 
THE TOWN OF TASHKURGAN, 60 KILOMETERS AWAY.  // END OPT // 
A NORTHERN ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED TO REUTERS NEWS AGENCY 
THE LOSS OF SHIBERGHAN, AND SAID THERE WAS HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN
SHIBERGHAN AND THE TOWN OF BALKH -- 20 KILOMETERS WEST OF 
MAZAR-E-SHARIF.
CIVILIANS ARE REPORTED TO BE LEAVING MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AND 
THEINTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IS TRYING TO EVACUATE 10 FOREIGN AID 
WORKERS.  A RED CROSS PLANE BROUGHT OUT 19 EXPATRIATES SUNDAY -- 
INCLUDING A FAMILY OF FIVE GERMAN TOURISTS WHO HAD CROSSED INTO 
NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN FROM NEIGHBORING UZBEKISTAN.
INDEPENDENT SOURCES SAY TALEBAN TROOPS HAVE MADE THEIR RAPID 
ADVANCES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS DUE TO A MAJOR DEFECTION FROM THE
NORTHERN ALLIANCE.
THE SOURCES SAY TWO-THOUSAND SOLDIERS FROM THE ALLIANCE'S 
HEZB-E-ISLAMI FACTION JOINED THE TALEBAN SUNDAY, ALLOWING THE 
TALEBAN TO BYPASS OPPOSITION TROOPS IN THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF 
MAIMANA AND SWEEP TOWARD SHIBERGHAN.
SHIBERGHAN, THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF JOZJAN PROVINCE, HAS BEEN 
THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY HEADQUARTERS OF THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE 
LEADER, GENERAL ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM. 
INDEPENDENT SOURCES SAY GENERAL DOSTUM DESTROYED EQUIPMENT AND 
SUPPLIES IN SHIBERGHAN BEFORE FLEEING THE AREA.  IT IS UNCLEAR 
WHERE HE IS NOW.
OTHER ALLIANCE LEADERS ARE MEETING (MONDAY) TO DISCUSS THE 
DEVELOPMENTS -- WHICH HAVE SEEN THE TALEBAN ADVANCE INTO FORMERLY
OPPOSITION-CONTROLLED TERRITORY IN THE NORTHERN THIRD OF 
AFGHANISTAN.
                        /// REST OPT ///
THE TALEBAN CONTROL THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OF AFGHANISTAN AND LAST 
YEAR MADE TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO TAKE THE NORTH. THEY 
BRIEFLY HELD MAZAR-E-SHARIF IN MAY OF LAST YEAR, BUT WERE FORCED 
OUT WITH HEAVY CASUALTIES WHEN A NORTHERN ALLIANCE COMMANDER WHO 
HAD HELPED THEM, SWITCHED SIDES AGAIN.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/WTW
03-Aug-98 7:21 AM EDT (1121 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.