Taliban Retreated from 4 Provinces

The Taliban of Afghanistan is reportedly occupying only 20 percent of the nation by retreating from 4 provinces including Nangarhar Province after giving up Kabul on Nov. 14.

A spokesperson of Iranian state-running Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) remarked, ``The Taliban has retreated from the additional 4 provinces including the strategic city Jalalabad in the East of Nangarhar, defeated by the protest of Mujahedin.`` A spokesperson of the Northern Alliance confirmed that ``the Taliban is occupying only 20 percent of nation now.``

AFP also quoted the report of the Afghan Islam Press that the Taliban has withdrew from 2 provinces including Oruzgan province in the central area and Lowgar province in the South of Kabul. Oruzgan, which is the homeland of the Taliban leader Muhamad Omar, is the strategic area bordering the Taliban`s base Qantahar.

In the midst of this situation, it has been reported that there was a rebel against the Taliban even in the Taliban`s base Qantahar. The Washington Post reported yesterday that 200-armed troops of Pashtun tribe waged battles against the Taliban and took over an airport. They are the second largest group of Pashtuns and known as having support from the U.S.

These assertions are not yet confirmed. The retreating Taliban announced that they would carry out a strong Guerilla wars in the rocky areas of the southern Qantahar. The residents of Qantahar who had escaped to Pakistan said, ``the armed Taliban troops surged into Qantahar and soon left for the nearby mountainous areas with their weapons and foods.`` Aides groups in Qantahar also said, ``most Taliban troops have left from the city.``

However, the leaders of Pashtuns insisted that the Taliban is still controlling the city.

lailai@donga.com