Afghanistan's Opposition forces captured a strategic mountain pass near the northern city of Taloqan in overnight fighting, killing at least 42 soldiers of the ruling Taliban Islamic militia, an Opposition spokesman said on Sunday.
The warring factions used heavy artillery in the battle for Tangi pass, 12 kilometres east of Taloqan, the capital of the northern Takhar province, Mohammed Abil, the Opposition
spokesman told the associated press by telephone from the war-ravaged region.
The pass connects Taloqan with the Opposition-controlled
northeastern region.
No immediate comment was available from the Taliban, who previously denied opposition claims of victories in several northern districts close to the border with the central Asian state of Tajikistan.
No independent confirmation of the conflicting claims
could be made because of the remoteness of the battle zone.
Abil said that the Taliban have been pushed out of Tangi and now the battle rages in the nearby mountains. Two Opposition fighters were killed and four others wounded during the fighting.
“Taliban fighter planes bombed opposition positions three
times since early today, but there was little damage,” he said.
Bureau Report
