January 24, 1999

Afghan opposition says 62 Taliban killed, 410 captured in north
Sun 24 Jan 99 - 06:30 GMT
KABUL, Jan 24 (AFP) - More than 410 Taliban troops have been captured and 62 men from both sides killed as fighting escalates in the far north, the Afghan opposition said Sunday.
Anti-Taliban alliance spokesman Abdullah (eds: one name) said 38 militia troops were killed by forces loyal to ethnic Tajik commander Ahmad Shah Masood in north west Faryab province in the last two days.
A further 12 opposition troops were killed by the Taliban and another 28 wounded by the fighting in Faryab around the town of Sheerin Tagab, he said.
"We also captured 200 horses which were being used to ferry the Taliban and supplies in the area," he said.
Independent confirmation was not immediately available. A Taliban spokesman was unavailable for comment.
Abdullah said another 60 Taliban had been imprisoned and a further 12 killed during a recent uprising at Shore Tepah in Balkh province near the border of Uzbekistan.