U.S. on the verge of major offensive

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 29. The U.S. may be on the verge of taking on the Taliban militia in a major and decisive way, while the Northern Alliance is planning a major offensive around Mazar-e- Sharif. The opposition hopes that when it begins the ``final operation'' against the Taliban, the U.S. air support will be there in a big way.

All eyes are on Mazar-e-Sharif, the major supply link from Uzbekistan. Reports reaching here say the Taliban is moving reinforcements to at least two provinces in the area.

U.S. hits Osama hideout

Reuters reports from Kabul:

The U.S. warplanes hit an area of caves and tunnels in eastern Afghanistan today known as a hideout of Osama bin Laden, killing two persons. And the southern city of Kandahar - stronghold of the Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar - came under fierce attack through the night and into the dawn, the CNN reported.

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