Taliban fails to control north Afghanistan

KABUL, June 11: Opposition forces captured a northern stronghold from fleeing Taliban soldiers today after a night of heavy fighting, according to eyewitnesses and opposition sources.

The Taliban religious army was driven from Pul-e-Khumri, 150 km north of the Afghan capital after a blistering assault from three different sides. An opposition spokesman said a three-pronged offensive was launched late yesterday with ousted military chief Ahmed Shah Massood moving in from the south, Ismaili Muslim troops from the east and Uzbek forces from the north.

8220;We captured 500 prisoners in Pul-e-Khumri and the other Taliban fled toward the old city of Baghlan.8221; The Taliban religious army is under attack from opposition forces on several fronts. The northern one-third of the country is controlled by anti-Taliban alliance, now called National Islamic Front for deliverance of Afghanistan.