DATE=11/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241496
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L-O)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FIERCE FIGHTING IS REPORTED IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN,
FOLLOWING A MAJOR ATTACK BY THE TALEBAN TOWARDS A CITY HELD BY
THE OPPOSITION NORTHERN ALLIANCE. SARAH HORNER HAS THE DETAILS.
TEXT: THE PAKISTAN-BASED AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS SAYS TALEBAN
FORCES BEGAN THEIR ASSAULT EARLY WEDNESDAY. A-I-P QUOTES TALEBAN
SOURCES WHO SAY THEIR SOLDIERS HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE OPPOSITION
FRONT LINE AND ARE THREE KILOMETERS FROM THE NORTHEASTERN AFGHAN
CITY, TALOQAN.
THE NEWS AGENCY REPORTS SOURCES CLOSE TO OPPOSITION COMMANDER
AHMAD SHAH MASSOOD CONFIRM FIERCE FIGHTING IS TAKING PLACE.
A-I-P SAYS BOTH SIDES ARE USING HEAVY ARTILLERY AND THAT TALEBAN
PLANES HAVE CARRIED OUT AIR RAIDS ON OPPOSITION POSITIONS ON
TALOQAN'S OUTSKIRTS. THE AGENCY QUOTES INDEPENDENT SOURCES WHO
SAY SOME BOMBS HAVE LANDED DIRECTLY ON THE CITY.
THE TALEBAN CONTROL NEARLY ALL OF AFGHANISTAN. COMMANDER MASSOOD
CONTROLS THE SOLE REMAINING OPPOSITION FORCE AND POCKETS OF
TERRITORY IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY.
THE TALEBAN'S ATTACK ON TALOQAN COMES AFTER A THREE-WEEK LULL IN
FIGHTING IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN. LAST MONTH, TALOQAN CHANGED
HANDS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SPACE OF A FEW DAYS, AS COMMANDER
MASSOOD PUSHED TALEBAN FORCES BACK.
WITH THE HARSH AFGHAN WINTER ON ITS WAY, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
COMMANDER MASSOOD TO HANG ONTO THE CITY TO PROTECT HIS
HARD-PRESSED SUPPLY LINES.
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THERE HAS BEEN A CEASEFIRE AT ANOTHER
FRONT LINE BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND COMMANDER MASSOOD -- JUST
NORTH OF THE CAPITAL, KABUL. THE TRUCE WAS TO FACILITATE THE
EXCHANGE OF THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE ARE REPORTED TO BE
VISITING TALEBAN JAILS TO COMPILE A LIST OF TROOPS BEING HELD
THERE. SO FAR, THE TALEBAN AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE HAVE
EXCHANGED A FEW HUNDRED PRISONERS.
(SIGNED)
NEB / SLH / CB / WD
11-Nov-98 6:57 AM EST (1157 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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