TEHRAN The leading members of Afghanistan's Northern Alliance met in Mashhad to write a comprehensive strategy against Taleban, who are now enjoying the covert support of the United States. Those who attended the meeting held on Wednesday included Commander Ahmad Shah Masood, Uzbek leader General Abdur Rashid Dostum and former governor of Herat, Ismael Khan. It was the first meeting of opposition commanders in Iran in the wake of recent Taleban advances against Masood, the last formidable obstacle for the Taleban, to gain complete control of the country.
Most of the commanders present at the meeting live in exile after being defeated by the Taleban which swept to power four years ago. Informed sources said according to the strategy agreed upon at the meeting, several thousand former soldiers and Afghan refugees based in Iran and Uzbekistan would be mobilized and transported by air to Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan Province.
From Badakhshan, the political heartland of the opposition, these combatants would be sent to the respective zones of each commander.
General Dostum will be in charge of the northern areas bordering Uzbekistan. Ismael Khan and other commanders will operate opposition troops in the northwest and southwest regions, close to the border with Iran. Commander Masood will be the overall commander.