Taleban 'to consolidate positions'

The Taleban will not push onwards for the moment

By Kate Clark in Kabul

The Taleban say they want to consolidate their positions in the newly-captured town of Taloqan, before making any further advances.

The Taleban Information Minister, Qadratullah Jamal, said Taloqan was calm.

He said the Taleban were planning no further moves until the area had been secured and he called on civilians to return, saying the Taleban just wanted to serve them.

Almost all civilians fled the Taleban advance, moving east and northwards deeper into territory held by the opposition Northern Alliance.

The alliance say they are digging in five or six kilometres east of Taloqan in an attempt to block any new Taleban advance.

A spokesman said retreating fighters had blown up a bridge close to Farkhar gorge.

Further fighting appears inevitable.

High ground

Taloqan was the Northern Alliance's second most important base and they will want to try to retake it.

The Taleban need to capture the high ground to the east of the town in order to fully secure their grip on the area.

The Taleban advance is causing some nervousness

The Taleban Information Minister, Qadratullah Jamal, also said alliance troops have pulled out of Imam Saheb district on the Tajik border, but he said Taleban soldiers have not yet entered the town of Amu Darya.

Tajikistan, along with most of the other Central Asian states, has been watching events in Afghanistan with increasing nervousness.

They mainly support the Northern Alliance and accuse the Taleban of supporting Islamic militants.

But Mr Jamal sought to reassure them, saying the Taleban had no desire to meddle in their neighbour's affairs.