Taliban Soldiers Tighten Grip On Afghanistan Russia Promises Intervention If Fighting Spills Over Border

Taliban fighters tightened their hold on northern Afghanistan on Sunday and opened contacts with the few remaining pockets of resistance, saying they want peace after decades of war.

As dusk settled, 2,500 more Taliban soldiers rolled into this city and promised to implement Islamic law. “Everything that is opposed to Islamic Shariat, we will stop,” said Gul Mohammed, a soldier, referring to the Islamic code.

The capture of this northern stronghold Saturday and the nighttime escape of warlord Rashid Dostum to Turkey gave the Taliban fighters control of all but two or three of Afghanistan’s 29 provinces - or about 90 percent of the country.

Pakistan announced Sunday it formally will recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, becoming the first country to do so. Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan told reporters in Islamabad that Pakistan would send an ambassador to Mazar-e-Sharif today.

But Russia warned it would intervene if fighting spreads across Afghanistan’s northern border to the Central Asian republics, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

And the former Soviet republics bordering Afghanistan also expressed concern Sunday that the takeover might send a stream of refugees over their borders.

Authorities in neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Kyrgyzstan, said they are worried about the prospect of an uncontrolled flood of refugees, Russian news services reported.

However, no unauthorized border crossings have been reported.

Tajikistan also is worried about incursions by Tajik opposition fighters based in Afghanistan.

From loudspeakers atop Mazar-e-Sharif’s ancient mosque, defectors from warlord Dostum’s army hailed the defeat of the general they had betrayed. Those defections had led to the collapse of Dostum’s northern bastion.

“Don’t be afraid. Open your shops. All is safe,” said Majeed Rozi, one of the commanders who had deserted Dostum barely one week ago.

Despite some looting, the streets in Mazar-e-Sharif were calm and free of fighting Sunday.