Northern Alliance claims advance around Kunduz

Northern Alliance forces on Friday reported progress indislodging Taliban troops from hillside positions near the city of Kunduz, the Islamic militia`s last bastion in the north. Northern Alliance attacks Kunduz on three fronts

Northern Alliance forces on Friday reported progress in dislodging Taliban troops from hillside positions near the city of Kunduz, the Islamic militia`s last bastion in the north. The Alliance also said that hundreds of Taliban soldiers had surrendered in the Kunduz area where they have been under siege for nearly two weeks.
“We have chased the Taliban from the hills dominating Khanabad, about 20 km east of Kunduz, Sadreddine,” a Northern Alliance commander said.
He said that Alliance soldiers were now deployed there. Backed by a US B-52 bomber, the Northern Alliance launched an offensive against Khanabad on Thursday evening as the first step in its drive to take Kunduz, where thousands of pro-Taliban troops are trapped.
Khanabad was still encircled by Alliance troops on Friday morning.
Bureau Report