AFGHANISTAN: AFGHAN WARLORD ABDUL RASHID DOSTRUM PROFILE

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(4 Nov 1996) Dari/Natsound   Fighting continues in Afghanistan, but many believe that the stalemate could be broke ...
(4 Nov 1996) Dari/Natsound  

Fighting continues in Afghanistan, but many believe that the stalemate could be broken by Abdul Rashid Dostum, the powerful northern Afghan warlord, who forms part of the anti-Taliban alliance.

Dostum has struggled to repel the Taliban -- the Islamic fundamentalist group which has captured Kabul and has been advancing towards his northwest stronghold in recent days.

But the warlord has a large and well equipped army which have been successful in repelling Taliban attacks so far along one of the present frontlines in the northwestern Badghis province.

The fighting goes on in the northwest of Afghanistan, the stronghold of northern warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Dostum's army has been fighting the Taliban for control of the Badghis province, the latest frontline between the opposing fighters.

But the warlords biggest goal is to capture the Taliban held city of Herat in the next province west of Badghis.

Dostum is part of the anti-Taliban alliance, which is also the most powerful and his second in command is confident they will succeed against their enemy.

SOUNDBITE: (Dari)
The Taliban are not very strong. They did not fight and captured the area but they negotiated, they bought the area. If we had the command form the Brigadier headquarters we can capture Herat.
SUPER CAPTION: General Gul Mohammed, number two to Dostum

Dostum's staging camp is twenty kilometres from the northern frontline in the Badghis province.

Captured prisoners of war are lined up and paraded for the cameras.

Some showed signs of injury, and head wounds as they stood with their hands tied.

These men being held do not profess to being hard line Islamic fundamentalists.  

SOUNDBITE: (Dari)
They (Taliban) did not allow us but we had no choice. We were forced into joining them. There was no option.
SUPER CAPTION: Hamidullah, Taliban prisoner

Besides working with the former government's anti-Taliban forces, Dostum has his own troops and is waging his own campaign to push the rebels back.  

Dostum has repeatedly called for talks but says the Taliban must withdraw from Kabul before agreeing to a cease-fire.

But the Taliban rulers say a cease-fire should precede talks.

In the meantime, north of the capital Kabul, combat between the Taliban religious army and the anti-Taliban alliance continues -- with neither side prepared to surrender.

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