Taliban claims gains in north

KABUL, June 1: Taliban troops repulsed an offensive in the northern Samangan province, inflicting heavy losses on opposition forces, Taliba...

KABUL, June 1: Taliban troops repulsed an offensive in the northern Samangan province, inflicting heavy losses on opposition forces, Taliban-run Radio Shariat said on Sunday.

“The attacking troops left behind tens of dead,” it said, adding that at least 36 rival fighters were captured by the Soldiers of Islam’.It said the “defeated militia and elements of evil and corruption launched an unsuccessful attack” on Taliban positions in Samangan province on Saturday.

But the Islamic Army gave a “tooth-breaking” blow to the troops loyal to the National Islamic Movement in northern Afghanistan, now headed by General Abdul Malik, the Taliban station claimed.

No independent confirmation was immediately available.

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Forces of Malik, former commander of ousted warlord Abdul Rashid Dostam, forced the Taliban out of the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharief on Wednesday, four days after inviting the Islamic militia into the town, Dostam’s former stronghold.

The religious militia subsequently suffered reversals in other northern provinces too and forces of former defence minister Ahmad Shah Masood increased pressure on the strategic Salang Highway linking Kabul with the North.

Masood’s men positioned on hills overlooking the main road captured the key highway town of Jabul Siraj on Friday and fighting for control of the town continued on Saturday.

The Taliban, which captured Kabul eight months ago, crossed the Salang Pass, 120 kilometres north of here, on Wednesday after an opposition commander joined them.

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But the Taliban troops’ links with the capital were cut after the fall of Jabul Siraj to Masood’s troops, who cut the key Salang highway. However, Taliban sources say that a helicopter service from Kabul maintained a regular supply to their troops trapped in the southern Salang valley.