Taliban Blockaded In Afghanistan's North Ready To Surrender

The Northern Alliance's military command is ready to provide a safety corridor to "Afghan Talibs" only, that is to local self-defence units encircled in Kunduz, administrative centre of Kunduz province neighbouring Tajikistan, according to a diplomatic source in the Tajik capital city. Agreement to open the corridor for the "local Talibs" has been reached by Northern Alliance General Daud Khan and a Taliban field commander, Mullah Dadullah. The Afghan Talibs who have given in arms can go back to their homes, said a source. The rest of Taliban fighters, including foreign mercenaries, blockaded in Kunduz, are going to be destroyed in an attack on the city. Pakistan is voicing concern about its residents' destiny - volunteers from religious parties and groupings who had joined the Taliban and now are blockaded in Afghanistan's north. In various estimates, trapped in Kunduz are 10 to 20 thousand fundamentalists, with the Pakistanis making a considerable part of them. Pakistani President Perwez Musharraf discussed the problem in telephone conferences with British Premier Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.