DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236949
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN AFGHANISTAN TALEBAN FORCES SAY THEY HAVE CAPTURED
SEVERAL KEY NORTHERN TOWNS, DEALING FURTHER SETBACKS TO THE
OPPOSITION. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN IS FOLLOWING THE
STORY IN OUR ISLAMABAD BUREAU AND SAYS THE REPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED.
TEXT: THE "AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS" QUOTES TALEBAN OFFICIALS AS
SAYING THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT TOOK PULIKHUMRI AND NAHREEN IN THE
NORTHEAST LATE TUESDAY.
THE AGENCY SAYS 600 OPPOSITION FIGHTERS SURRENDERED IN NAHREEN
AND THE TALEBAN ALSO SEIZED A DOZEN TANKS AND THOUSANDS OF GUNS.
NAHREEN IS A KEY SUPPLY ROUTE TO THE PANJSHIR VALLEY, THE
LONG-TIME STRONGHOLD OF OPPOSITION COMMANDER AHMAD SHAH MASOOD.
IN A SEPARATE ACTION, THE TALEBAN STRUCK AT A VITAL SUPPLY POINT
ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH UZBEKISTAN. THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC
PRESS SAYS THE TALEBAN CAPTURED THE RIVER PORT OF HAIRATAN. THE
TOWN HOLDS AN IMPORTANT BRIDGE, CROSSING FROM UZBEKISTAN, OVER
WHICH THE OPPOSITION RECEIVED MANY SUPPLIES.
THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THE REPORTS. BUT, THEY
FOLLOW THE TALEBAN CAPTURE OF TALOQAN EARLIER TUESDAY, ANOTHER
KEY SUPPLY POINT IN THE REGION.
MILITARY ANALYSTS SAY TALEBAN SOLDIERS ARE CUTTING OPPOSITION
SUPPLY LINES TO PREVENT OPPOSITION FIGHTERS FROM RE-GROUPING AND
MOUNTING AN EFFECTIVE COUNTER ATTACK IN THE NORTH.
THE BIG TALEBAN VICTORY IN THE REGION CAME SATURDAY WHEN THE
ISLAMIC MOVEMENT CAPTURED MAZAR-I-SHARIF, THE NORTHERN CAPITAL.
IT WAS THE LAST MAJOR CITY IN AFGHANISTAN HELD BY THE OPPOSITION.
THE TALEBAN CONTROLS MOST OF THE COUNTRY.
THE TALEBAN ADMINISTRATION ENFORCES A STRICT VERSION OF ISLAMIC
LAW THAT DIRECTS MEN TO WEAR BEARDS, AND BARS MOST WOMEN FROM
WORK AND GIRLS FROM SCHOOL. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
12-Aug-98 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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