Opposition Northern Alliance forces on Monday made a major push towards Kabul and captured the entire Bamiyan province in central Afghanistan and the key western city of Herat as ruling Taliban retreated from all northern provinces except Kunduz. The Alliance forces broke through a militia frontline north of the capital after capturing the district of Qara Bagh in just an hour-long battle leaving 100 Taliban soldiers dead, the opposition claimed.
Iran's state-run news agency IRNA quoting a leader of Afghan coalition of Shiite groups said that the opposition forces captured the entire Bamiyan province early Monday morning. Karim Khalili said 50 Taliban fighters were killed and about 100 captured during the fight to regain Bamiyan.
Emboldened by their victory at northern Taliban stronghold of Mazar-e-Sharif and several neighbouring provinces, the Alliance troops claimed to have also marched into the western city of Herat where people revolted against the militia.
In Kabul, Taliban fighters were setting up road blocks in a bid to create hurdles for opposition forces.
Bureau Report