Anti-Taliban forces gain ground in northeastern province

ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (AFP) - Afghan opposition troops have attacked the Taliban Islamic militia in a province northeast of Kabul and captured a district, the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported Saturday. The attack in Laghman province was launched late Friday by troops belonging to Ahmad Shah Masood, the main commander of former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, the Pakistan-based private information service said. It quoted unidentified opposition sources as saying the district of Daulatshah fell to the attacking force after night-long fighting during which 150 Taliban soliders were taken prisoner. There was no independent confirmation of the AIP report which said eight troops from both sides were killed in the clashes. Taliban sources in the eastern city of Jalalabad told AIP that a local commander allied to the Islamic militia switched sides after being bribed by the opposition, leading to clashes in the area. The sources did not comment on opposition claims that they had taken the district of Daulatshah, the agency said. The Taliban militia controls two-thirds of Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, with an opposition alliance holding the northern part of the country.