As Received by AAR

The Mujahideen repulse Taliban attack

Office of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in Washington DC
News update
 
Washington D.C. - July 9,2000: An offensive lunched by the Pakistan-backed Taliban militiamen north of Kabul was repulsed and the invading forces suffered heavy casualties.

Besmellah Khan, the commander of the Mujahideen in Shemali said, the Taliban launched their attacks at 3:15 am local time from the direction of old road. At the start they were able to capture five outposts in Khalazai village, but were later driven out by the Mujahideen. The Taliban lost 14 tanks and 18 trucks. Tens of the tliban fighters were either killed or wounded, but no figure was available when this report was filed.

The Mujahideen on the other hand, lost 6 men and 12 of them were wounded. Commander Besmellah said the enemy launched 6 attacks, but could not make any gain. He described the fighting as very extensive.

The offensive has ceased now and the two sides are engaged in exchange of artillery fire.

He described the morale of the Taliban troops as low, adding that they \they made extensive use of jet fighters, armored vehicles and artillery to break the Mujahideen defenses. The heroic resistance put up by the Mujahideen foiled their attempts, Besmellah said.

A senior mujahideen commander described the new round of fighting as Musharraf's war to gain victory for its stated Afghan policy. He argued, without the full support of the Pakistanis the Taliban were not in a position to launch a fresh offensive in Shemali after a major defeat one week ago.

The Taliban launched their long-awaited offensive on July 1, but suffered heavy casualties. Around 500 Taliban fighters and Arab and Pakistani terrorists were either killed or wounded.