KABUL, Aug 13: Fierce clashes broke out in northern Afghanistan on Sunday between the forces of the Taliban and its opponents near a key opposition base close to the border with Tajikistan.
Opposition officials said the Taliban had gained ground after they launched a massive pre-dawn offensive on Taloqan, a key stronghold of opposition commander Ahmad Shah Masood.
"Several thousand Taliban infantry forces are involved in this attack, backed by heavy artillery fire and a real bombardment," opposition spokesman Dr Abdullah told Reuters on phone from Taloqan.
Mr Abdullah said the Taliban in a three-pronged offensive had captured several kilometres of the territory.
Taliban officials in Kabul confirmed the fighting.
Another opposition spokesman said the latest fighting was part of the second wave of Taliban attacks on Taloqan this month after earlier cutting a vital opposition supply line from Tajikistan.
The recent Taliban gains are the most significant in the past several months. Taliban's hold over the supply line could make it difficult for Masood to defend his main stronghold of the Panjsher valley which is already under a two-pronged Taliban siege.
Another opposition spokesman, Mohammad Habeel, said the Taliban staged a heavy multi-pronged dawn attack against their defences around Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province.
Mr Habeel denied reports that the Taliban had captured the nearby town of Baharak to the west of Taloqan.
WARNING: Afghanistan Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmad Mutawakel on Sunday warned a UN peace envoy against making statements critical of the Taliban, official sources said.
Taliban radio quoted UN envoy Francesc Vendrell as accusing the Taliban of initiating the latest round of fighting in the northeast and expressing concern "over Pakistan's backing" for the militia.
The official radio said Mr Mutawakel responded by saying that Mr Vendrell's job as a peace mediator did not require such statements. "He should be extremely cautious in his statements," the foreign minister said.-Reuters/AFP
