The Taleban-controlled Afghan Radio recently reported that the issue of collecting weapons from Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan was discussed during a meeting between Taleban's diplomatic envoy in Islamabad, Mollah Sadr-ul-Islam Za'if, and Pakistan's deputy interior minister.

As regards the motives behind such a move, the Dari Service of the IRIB interviewed Professor Meimanaki, who previously taught at Kabul's Military Academy.

Professor Meimanaki said that the primary objective of collecting weapons from the Afghan refugee camps is to weaken the resistance of the Afghan people against foreign aggressors and occupiers. "The fact is that Pakistan, by fostering and giving financial and military support to the Taleban, has turned into the occupier of Afghanistan. Thus, I think the objectives behind such disarmament are depriving the Afghan people of means of self-defense and resistance against Pakistan's intervention, providing new sources of weapons and ammunition for the Taleban and, above all, depriving the Baluch and Pashtun nationalists of their weapons in order to avert future threats to the Taleban militia," he added.

This professor said that by collecting weapons from the refugee camps, Pakistan also intends to subdue all prominent Afghan figures living in those camps who can play an active role in the resistance of Afghan people against the Taleban and Pakistan's interference, as they will no longer be able to ensure their security and will be forced to obey any orders issued by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

In conclusion, Professor Meimanaki noted, "What is clear is that Pakistan is the main supporter of the Taleban and major interventionist in Afghanistan, as the occupation of this country was achieved through the involvement of Pakistani military forces. Thus, any move taken by Islamabad with regard to Afghanistan is aimed at consolidating the occupation of this country and weakening the resistance of Afghan people against Pakistan's intervention."

In another development, there were reports from Afghanistan that the Northern Alliance forces, led by Afghan military commander Ahmad Shah Masood, on Monday morning launched an offensive on the Taleban strongholds in the highlands in northern Afghanistan, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taleban forces and capturing a large number of the militiamen.

Furthermore, according to the reports, during the clashes, two Taleban commanders Mowlavi Abdulhakim and Mirza Foozi along with 55 militiamen defected to the northern alliance forces.

The Dari Service of the IRIB interviewed a commander of the Northern Alliance forces based in northeast Afghanistan, Commandant Davood, about the latest offensive launched by the Northern Alliance on the Taleban positions.

He said that the alliance forces loyal to President Burhanuddin Rabbani stationed in different parts of Takhar Province are prepared to regain the occupied territories from the Taleban forces.

As regards the clashes in southern Takhar Province, especially in Chal region, he said, "Following 17 days of fighting and suffering great casualties, the Taleban militiamen managed to capture a small part of Chal region, but most of the region is still controlled by Northern Alliance forces. However, our forces positioned in adjacent areas are quite prepared to regain the occupied region."

Commandant Davood further referred to the condition of the front lines in Ba'lan Province. "The forces loyal to the Islamic government of President Rabbani managed to liberate some parts of this province from the occupation of the Taleban by breaking their front line in Andarab area. During the operations, 35 Taleban militiamen defected to our forces and some 12 of them were captured. Besides, a great amount of arms and ammunition was seized by the alliance forces. Most of Ba'lan Province is currently controlled by forces loyal to President Rabbani," he pointed out.