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Afghan Opposition Says Defectors Close Main Road "Americans had been informed...They are pleased.''
Reuters via Yahoo! News ^ | Tuesday October 9 1:24 PM ET | Peter Graff

Posted on 10/09/2001 11:45:55 PM PDT by Pericles

Tuesday October 9 1:24 PM ET

Afghan Opposition Says Defectors Close Main Road

By Peter Graff

JABAL-US-SARAJ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A group of commanders from the ruling Taliban militia have switched sides and closed the only road linking north and south Afghanistan, a senior opposition Northern Alliance official said Tuesday.

``About 40 commanders with 1,200 men under arms joined the alliance and closed the Bagram-Bamiyan road to the Taliban on Monday night,'' said Abdullah Abdullah, foreign minister of the opposition Northern Alliance. If confirmed, the defections would deal a severe blow to the hard-line Taliban, now under attack from the skies by a mighty U.S.-led force, by virtually cutting off their southern power base from cities they hold in the north and where ethnic minorities do not necessarily support them. ''There wasn't any fighting, they basically came right over,'' Abdullah said in an interview in Jabal-us-Saraj, an opposition stronghold 45 miles north of Kabul.

``Without that road the Taliban can only supply the north of Afghanistan by the road leading from Kabul all the way to the west via Herat.''

The Northern Alliance has long blocked the Salang Pass that commands the main highway linking Kabul with cities in the north.

The Bagram to Bamiyan road is the main detour linking Kabul with the key northern cities of Kunduz and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Now, Taliban forces will only be able to supply the northeast by the roundabout highway all the way across western Afghanistan and the city of Herat.

``For (Taliban control of) the north it will make it very difficult, if not in the immediate term -- today or tomorrow -- then in the mid-term,'' Abdullah said.

``It has put the Taliban in northern Afghanistan in a very difficult situation, the most difficult situation in all their years.''

Abdullah said the defections had been expected by the alliance, which was in touch with the commanders before the United States began its strikes Sunday.

``We knew these people and we knew that under these circumstances they would have no choice.''

The Americans had been informed of the development, he said.

``They are pleased.''


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 10/09/2001 11:45:56 PM PDT by Pericles
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To: Pericles
You know what they say: You can't buy an Afghan's loyalty, but you can rent it.
2 posted on 10/09/2001 11:50:43 PM PDT by Redcloak
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To: Pericles
Actually, they are now free to choose.
3 posted on 10/09/2001 11:58:05 PM PDT by Bogie
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Pericles
A spontaneous uprising by the Aghan peoples against Medevialist and Arab forces occupying their territory.
5 posted on 10/10/2001 12:43:39 AM PDT by Fulbright
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To: Pericles
I don't get it. One of you guys explain to me how the heck do they know this group won't slit their throats? How do you keep the good guys and the bad guys stright?
6 posted on 10/10/2001 1:01:17 AM PDT by LUVYA DUBYA 2000
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To: Pericles wileycoyote22 takenoprisoner
Here is a borrowed cartoon from another thread:

Borrowed from takenoprisoner .

7 posted on 10/10/2001 1:14:35 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: LUVYA DUBYA 2000
I don't know. Strange "culture"...

With these kinds of "principles" I can say they will be unable to govern themselves peacefully.

8 posted on 10/10/2001 2:37:39 AM PDT by DB
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To: LUVYA DUBYA 2000
I've been wondering the same thing. If you get an answer to this question, would you please ping me?
9 posted on 10/10/2001 4:08:56 AM PDT by SouthernBelle
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To: Pericles
Would seem to me that 1,240 martyrs have moved into position ready to strike when the time comes.
10 posted on 10/10/2001 4:47:33 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: Pericles
These guys sound like our own political moderates, waiting to see which side is winning before making a commitment.
11 posted on 10/10/2001 5:35:05 AM PDT by VRWC_minion
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