KANDAHAR, Nov 1 (IslamOnline) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia claimed early Thursday that it repulsed a major offensive by the opposition Northern Alliance.
In a three-hour battle, the Taliban says it defended its positions near Dara-i-Suf in Samangan province against an attack by fighters of the Northern Alliance (NA), the private news agency quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying.
Taliban officials said the Alliance fighters had launched the offensive to capture key areas of Samangan province while taking advantage of what they termed as "the heaviest bombing" since October 7th.
However, the offensive was quashed, they added.
"The opposition forces were not able to advance even an inch and there has been no change in the front lines," the spokesman said.
There was no immediate comment from the Northern Alliance, led in Samangan by ethnic Uzbek warlord General Abdul Rashid Dostum.
U.S.-led forces have bombed Taliban positions around Dara-i-Suf for more than two weeks, but their defenses were still strong, AIP reported.
The report comes a day after the United States carpet-bombed Taliban frontlines north of Kabul, where it has been bombing almost every day since October 21.
