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DATE=11/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242134
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THERE ARE REPORTS OF FIGHTING BETWEEN THE TALEBAN AND THE 
NORTHERN ALLIANCE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN. SARAH
HORNER REPORTS EACH SIDE IS TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE ITS POSITION 
BEFORE THE ONSET OF THE HARSH AFGHAN WINTER. 
TEXT:  INDEPENDENT SOURCES TELL V-O-A FIGHTING HAS ERUPTED IN 
PARTS OF NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN TAKEN OVER BY THE TALEBAN IN 
AUGUST.  THE SOURCES SAY TALEBAN FIGHTERS ARE TAKING HEAVY 
CASUALTIES.  THERE IS  NO  REPORT OF THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE'S 
CASUALTIES. 
ACCORDING TO THE SOURCES, THERE HAS BEEN AN UPRISING IN THE 
DARZAB DISTRICT OF THE NORTH-WESTERN FARYAB PROVINCE, AND 
FIGHTING IS ALSO TAKING PLACE AROUND SARIPUL IN NEIGHBORING 
JOZJAN PROVINCE.  
THE SOURCES SAY THE FORCE OPPOSING TALEBAN RULE IN SARIPUL  
INVOLVES SOLDIERS LOYAL TO THE JUNBUSH-I-MILLI PARTY OF GENERAL 
ABDUL RASHID DOSTUM -- WHO PREVIOUSLY CONTROLLED THE AREA -- AND 
FORMER FIGHTERS FROM AFGHANISTAN'S WAR AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION. 
SARIPUL IS ON THE MAIN ROAD LEADING TO GENERAL DOSTUM'S FORMER 
HEADQUARTERS IN SHIBERGHAN, 60 KILOMETERS NORTH OF SARIPUL. 
THE SOURCES ALSO REPORT HEAVY FIGHTING NORTH OF THE VITAL SALANG 
TUNNEL, WHICH LINKS NORTH AND SOUTH AFGHANISTAN.  
THE SOURCES SAY SEVERAL HUNDRED TALEBAN RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN 
ATTACK INTO ANDARAB VALLEY, JUST NORTH OF THE TUNNEL, BUT WERE 
SURROUNDED AND CUT OFF BY THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE FORCES OF 
COMMANDER AHMAD SHAH MASSOOD.  COMMANDER MASSOOD'S PANJSHIR 
VALLEY HEADQUARTERS RUN PARALLEL TO ANDARAB VALLEY. 
A SPOKESMAN (SAAD MOHSENI) FOR THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE CONFIRMS 
FIGHTING AROUND SALANG.  HE SAYS ALLIANCE FORCES HAVE MADE 
SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN THE AREA. 
COMMANDER MASSOOD IS ALSO REPORTED TO BE PUSHING TOWARD THE MAIN 
AIRPORT IN THE NORTH-EASTERN KUNDUZ PROVINCE, 170-KILOMETERS 
NORTH OF THE SALANG TUNNEL. THE SOURCES SAY THE AIRPORT IS UNDER 
ATTACK AND CANNOT BE USED.  KUNDUZ HAS LONG BEEN CONTROLLED BY 
FORCES WHICH SHARE ETHNIC LINKS WITH AND LOYALTY TO THE TALEBAN. 
THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE SPOKESMAN SAYS THE ALLIANCE HAVE RECENTLY 
FORMED A MILITARY COUNCIL WITH COMMANDER MASSOOD AT THE HELM. 
OTHER KEY MEMBERS ARE SHI'ITE MUSLIM LEADERS KARIM KHALILI AND 
USTAD SAYAF. MR KHALILI LOST CONTROL OF CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN TO 
TALEBAN FORCES IN SEPTEMBER.  HE FLED TO IRAN, WHICH BACKS HIS 
HEZB-WAHDAT GROUP. 
TALEBAN OFFICIALS HAVE  NOT  COMMENTED ON THE LATEST REPORTS OF 
FIGHTING. THE TALEBAN AND THE NORTHERN ALLIANCE ARE JOCKEYING FOR
POSITION AHEAD OF THE FIRST SNOWS OF THE SEVERE AFGHAN WINTER. 
EACH SIDE IS ANXIOUS TO PROTECT SUPPLY LINES AND ENSURE ITS 
FIGHTERS ARE IN A GOOD POSITION FOR THE WINTER MONTHS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SLH/LTD/KL
25-Nov-98 10:22 AM EST (1522 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.