TALIBAN LAUNCHES OFFENSIVE ON TWO FRONTS.

Publication: Monitor Volume: 3 Issue: 100

Taliban forces yesterday made significant advances in northern Afghanistan against the ethnic Uzbek, Russian-backed warlord, Abdul Rashid Dostum, after his top lieutenant, Gen. Abdul Malik, switched sides in Taliban’s favor. In western Afghanistan, Taliban forces gained ground against Iran-backed Shiite forces. (Western and Russian agencies, May 19-20) These developments are likely to alarm several Central Asian governments and could aid Russian efforts to draw them into an alliance under the guise of resisting Islamic radicalism.

More Jousting over NATO Enlargement.