Taleban take northern town

Taleban forces have been advancing

By Kate Clark in Kabul

Taleban forces in Afghanistan have taken another town in the north of Afghanistan, Ishkamish.

It means the Taleban have an even stronger hold on the opposition's main supply route.

The Taleban say they have not yet decided whether or not to impose a blockade.

Although Ishkamish has now fallen to the Taleban, it is still not clear what the status of the surrounding district is.

Neither side had any information on casualties.

Earlier, a spokesman from the opposition Northern Alliance reported there was still heavy fighting.

He sounded upbeat and said opposition forces would soon drive out the Taleban - but the Taleban says there has been no resistance to their advance.

Blockade

If the opposition do not regain Ishkamish, their supply routes will be even more compromised.

The Taleban said they have not yet decided whether to enforce a blockade that would squeeze forces loyal to the main opposition commander, Ahmed Shah Masood.

The Taleban have used the blockade as a military tactic in other areas, banning even the supply of food in an effort to weaken resistance.

That has happened to Darra-e-Souf this year and to the whole of the central highlands of Afghanistan in 1998.

Both sides are accusing each other of having started the recent fighting.

It is important, because the United Nations Security Council has threatened the Taleban with economic sanctions if they launch a new offensive.

It is not made similar warnings to the opposition.

Last week, the Taleban took the key town of Nahrin, just south of Ishkamish.

They said they made the gain after the opposition launched an offensive which forced them to take defensive action.