DATE=7/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING (L)
NUMBER=2-252291
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
INTRO: In Afghanistan, fighting is continuing near
Kabul between Taleban and opposition forces. Reports
differ as to the number of people killed. Sarah Horner
has details from Islamabad.
TEXT: The Taleban says at least two people have been
killed and five others injured in an opposition rocket
attack on the airport in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul.
The opposition Northern Alliance confirmed it had
launched a rocket attack on Kabul, according to the
Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press.
But the opposition spokesman also says at least 23
civilians had been killed in Taleban bombing raids on
Charikar, the provincial capital of Parwan province,
north of Kabul.
There is no independent confirmation of the casualty
figures in either Kabul and Parwan.
Kabul Airport and surrounding areas in the north of the
city have been struck by rockets for the past three
days, prompting the United Nations and the
International Red Cross to stop flying to the capital.
Commercial fliqhts have also been canceled.
Taleban forces, which control 90 percent of
Afghanistan, began a major offensive Tuesday against
the last remaining opposition group.
The opposition Northern Alliance, led by veteran
commander Ahmad Shah Massood, has conceded the loss of
some ground in the Tagab valley, 45 kilometers north of
Kabul. But an Alliance spokesman says Taleban attacks
on two other fronts have been repulsed.
Commander Massood's stronghold is in the Panjshir
Valley, 90 kilometers north of Kabul. During the
10-year Soviet occupation of Afghanistan - which ended
in 1989 - General Massood repulsed repeated Soviet
attacks on the Panjshir. Taleban forces have not been
able to penetrate the valley.
From this stronghold, Commander Massood has launched
attacks on Taleban forces for the past two years and
defeated their attempts to put all Afghanistan under
Taleban control.
The latest outbreak of fighting comes a week after U-N-
sponsored peace talks that were held in the Uzbek
capital, Tashkent. The two-day meetinq ended with
litt1e result. (SIGNED)
NEB/SBH/rrm
29-Jul-1999 10:11 AM LOC (29-Jul-1999 1411 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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