Taliban, ``Revenge at Any Cost``

Mullah Mohammed Omar, the leader of Taliban government in Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden called for jihad (holy war) against the U.S. right after the U.S. retaliatory attacks, which began Sunday evening.

UPI press reported yesterday that Omar said that ``jihad against the U.S. is Muslims` obligation.`` bin Laden urged the Muslims to enter jihad against the U.S. in a recorded statement on video, saying that ``These events [U.S. attacks against Afghanistan] have split the world into two camps - belief and disbelief. Every Muslim should support his religion.`` The video was broadcast on al-Jazeera television of Qatar.

The Afghanistan government also cried for `revenge`. According to AFP, Abdul Salam Zaeef, Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan, said yesterday that ``these barbarous attacks (by the U.S. and U.K.) will unite Afghanistan people. Afghanistan people will arise to resist against a new colonialist attempt.``

Maulbi Nazibulla, Afghanistan counsel general at Peshawar, Pakistan, said that ``not much has been damaged by these attacks as I heard from Kabul and Kandahar. The Taliban soldiers are ready to revenge.``

DPA press reported, quoting Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), that the Taliban army established a new defense line by deploying additional 2,000 soldiers in 60 kilometers north of Kabul.

Right after the third attack yesterday morning, markets in Kabul opened as usual. AP reported that the residents were seen to have observed the damages done by attacks. There were no injured people who visited four hospitals in downtown Kabul, and the Kabul Airport was closed.

Meanwhile, the Northern Alliance, resistant against the Taliban regime, attacked the Taliban military base in nearby mountain with rocket launchers from Bagram Air Force Base 40 kilometers north of Kabul, and the Taliban responded with the Russian made BM21 Rocket launchers.

The attack of the Northern Alliance began at 10pm Sunday, an hour after the U.S. and U.K. attacks against the Afghanistan, and continued until 3am Monday.

A Northern Alliance official said, ``Although advance before Kabul will not take long, it will take many weeks to seize the Kabul area since the Taliban has strengthened the defense.``

Hong Kwon-Heui konihong@donga.com