DATE=9/4/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-238157

TITLE=AFGHAN FIGHTING / S-O

BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THERE HAS BEEN HEAVY FIGHTING NORTH OF THE AFGHAN CAPITAL, KABUL, AS OPPOSITION FORCES LAUNCHED A FIERCE ASSAULT ON TALEBAN POSITIONS. TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY HOWEVER THEIR FORCES HAVE NOT LOST ANY GROUND. ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD.

TEXT: THE AFGHAN ISLAMIC PRESS (A-I-P) REPORTS OPPOSITION COMMANDER AHMED SHAH MASOOD'S FORCES LAUNCHED A MASSIVE TWO-PRONGED ATTACK ON TALEBAN POSITIONS NORTH OF KABUL, EARLYFRIDAY.

THE ATTACK CAME NEAR BAGRAM, ON THE STRATEGIC ROAD THAT LINKS KABUL TO THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY. TALEBAN OFFICIALS SAY INITIAL GAINS BY THE OPPOSITION FORCES WERE TAKEN BACK BY THE TALEBAN, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF HEAVY FIGHTING. ARTILLERY EXCHANGES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ARE STILL CONTINUING.

TALEBAN JETS FLEW OUT FROM KABUL AIRPORT TO BOMB OPPOSITION POSITIONS REPEATEDLY. COMMANDER MASOOD'S FORCES RETALIATED WITH SEVERAL ROCKETS AIMED AT THE AIRPORT, BUT IT WAS NOT CLEAR IF THE AIRPORT HAD BEEN DAMAGED.

COMMANDER MASOOD'S FORCES ARE HOLDING ONE OF THE LAST KEY LINES OF DEFENSE AGAINST THE TALEBAN, WHO HAVE CAPTURED 90 PERCENT OF

AFGHANISTAN. (SIGNED)

NEB / AZ / WD / WD

04-Sep-98 6:15 AM EDT (1015 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America