DUSHANBE. Oct 17 (Interfax-AVN) - During their offensive on Mazar-e Sharif, the administrative center of Afghanistan's Balkh province, General Rashid Dostum's forces attacked the Taliban positions seven kilometers south-east of the city on Wednesday morning, and established control over an airfield that had been defended mostly by Chechen mercenaries. About 20 rebels were taken prisoner, a source in Dostum's headquarters reports.
On Wednesday, Dostum's units carried out reconnaissance-in-force operations on the southern outskirts of Mazar-e Sharif, but had to return to their initial positions 10 kilometers from the city.
Representatives of the United National Liberation Front of Afghanistan are reporting from the Balkh, Samangan and Fariab provinces that the Taliban units, formerly part of the Taliban regular armed forces, are joining the government troops. These units are about 2,500 strong.
United Front representatives have not confirmed information that a U.S. force landed outside Kandahar on Tuesday morning. But reports are being received that U.S. planes and helicopters are continuing air strikes against the Taliban infantry division based in the vicinity of Kandahar.