The Afghan Islamic Press said Sayed Jafar Nadari, leader of a small militia army from the Ismaili sect, had taken control of 80 per cent of Pol-e-Khumri. The agency added that 150 Northern Alliance fighters were killed. Nadari, a former general in the Afghan army, served as governor of Pul-i-Khumri during President Rabbani's 1992-96 government. He since turned against Rabbani and is trying to reclaim his position following the Taliban's withdrawal from the town. Nadari is also believed to be aligned with General Abdul Rashid Dostum. The US and Australia have dismissed an AIP report that 10 United States and two Australian soldiers had been captured or kidnaped by Northern Alliance forces in the operation.
AIP is not the most reliable news source in the world, but if the report of fighting at Pul-e-Khumri is accurate, the development must please Hekmatyar no end. The capture/kidnap part is extremely doubtful. |