Northern Alliance's Troops Seized Herat In Western Afghanistan

In the early hours of Monday, the Northern Alliance's troops seized the town of Herat, a strategic administrative centre of the Herat province in western Afghanistan. Herat is a juncture of roads linking Afghanistan with Turkmenistan and Iran. The Indian UNI news agency reports, making reference to certain Iranian sources, that many Taliban soldiers were captured and killed during the operation. According to the agency, Ismail Khan, the former governor of Herat, commanded the operation. Khan was forced to resign by the Taliban authorities in 1995. The Northern Alliance is currently striving to liberate the Uzbekistan-bordering province of Herat.