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DATE=10/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240340
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  AFGHAN OPPOSITION FORCES HAVE CAPTURED THE KEY NORTHERN 
CITY OF TALOQAN FROM THE TALEBAN. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM 
ISLAMABAD, THE CAPTURE OF TALOQAN IS THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT 
MILITARY SUCCESS FOR THE OPPOSITION AFTER MONTHS OF TALEBAN 
GAINS.
TEXT: A TALEBAN SPOKESMAN IN KANDAHAR CONFIRM (SATURDAY) THAT 
FORCES OF COMMANDER AHMED SHAH MASOOD PUSHED TALEBAN FIGHTERS OUT
OF TALOQAN OVERNIGHT AFTER HEAVY FIGHTING.
THE TALEBAN SPOKESMAN TOLD THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) 
AGENCY THAT TALEBAN FORCES HAVE FALLEN BACK TO FRONTLINES ABOUT 
FIFTEEN KILOMETERS OUTSIDE THE CITY.
FIGHTING IN THE MOUNTAINOUS TAKHAR PROVINCE IN NORTHEASTERN 
AFGHANISTAN HAS BEEN CONTINUING FOR OVER A WEEK, WITH COMMANDER 
MASOOD'S FORCES TRYING TO RECAPTURE TERRITORY TAKEN BY THE 
TALEBAN IN AUGUST.
OPPOSITION SOURCES SAY HUNDREDS OF TALEBAN FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN 
TAKEN PRISONER AFTER THE FALL OF TALOQAN. THIS CLAIM IS HOWEVER 
DENIED BY THE TALEBAN. OPPOSITION FORCES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO 
HAVE CAPTURED HELICOPTERS AND TANKS LEFT BEHIND BY RETREATING 
TALEBAN FIGHTERS.
TALEBAN FIGHTER JETS HAD BOMBED OPPOSITION FORCES LAST WEEK TO 
STALL THEIR ADVANCE IN TAKHAR PROVINCE. THE TALEBAN SAY THEY HAVE
NOW SENT 600 FRESH FIGHTERS TO TAKHAR TO PREPARE FOR A 
COUNTER-OFFENSIVE ON TALOQAN.THE CAPTURE OF TALOQAN WILL COME AS 
A STRONG BOOST TO THE ANTI-TALEBAN OPPOSITION, WHICH HAS SUFFERED
A SERIES OF DEFEATS IN RECENT MONTHS. 
IN AUGUST COMMANDER MASOOD'S  FORCES LOST CONTROL OF KEY SUPPLY 
ROUTES LEADING SOUTH THROUGH TALOQAN TOWARDS FRONTLINES IN THE 
PANJSHER VALLEY AND NEAR KABUL.
WITH AFGHANISTAN'S HARSH WINTER FAST APPROACHING, RECAPTURING 
THOSE SUPPLY ROUTES WAS CONSIDERED A KEY STRATEGIC NEED FOR THE 
SURVIVAL OF COMMANDER MASOOD'S FORCES. 
CONTROL OF THE AIRBASE IN TALOQAN WILL ALSO ADD ANOTHER SUPPLY 
LINK TO THE OPPOSITION, WHICH HAS ONLY ONE OTHER WORKING AIRPORT 
LEFT IN ITS CONTROL. TALEBAN FORCES NOW HOLD ALMOST 90 PERCENT OF
AFGHANISTAN, WHILE THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN ISOLATED IN A FEW 
POCKETS OF THE COUNTRY. 
TALEBAN FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN PRESSING OPPOSITION FORCES AT THREE 
OTHER FRONTLINES IN THE AREA, IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONSOLIDATE 
CONTROL OVER ALL OF AFGHANISTAN BEFORE WINTER. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/TMD/KBK
17-Oct-98 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.