taliban to attend jeddah meeting

islamabad, march 2, irna - taliban militia has decided to attend the proposed jeddah meeting among different afghan factions, under the oic patronage. the pakistan daily, "the news" quoted the in charge of taliban foreign ministry, wakil ahmad mutawakkil as saying "we will participate with an open mind." he said their former information minister, amir khan muttaqi would lead the three-member taliban delegation at the talks. however, he said these would be indirect meeting as the oic officials would talks to both the warring sides separately.

the report came amid renewed fierce fighting between taliban and the united front forces in shomali plains, north of kabul and in kunduz province along the tajikistan border. initial reports said taliban, in their wednesday morning onslaught, captured the towns of sher khan bandar and imam saheb, thus cutting the supply line of the united front from neighboring tajikistan. the northern alliance has contradicted the taliban claims. reports about a possible taliban attack were being received since the beginning of fresh oic and un activities for restoration of peace in afghanistan. previously, taliban launched attacks while talks between them and the northern alliance were in progress in tashkent. /ah/md/. end. ::irna 03/03/2000 00:03