Kandahar, Nov 27 : The US Military has walked straight into the trap set for it by 'retreating' Taliban forces by landing near Kandahar in preparation for major ground operations in much the same way as its predecessor, the Soviet Union, did twenty years ago. The arrogance of the US Government has led it to think that the war is in its closing stages and only 'mopping up' operations remain. On the contrary, from the Mujahideen point of view, the war has just begun. Coming days and weeks will prove the miscalculation of this move by the Americans. The Muslims are encouraged to increase in their supplications in the month of Ramadan, for the rout of the Crusader forces in Kandahar. Until now, many Muslims have, unfortunately, trusted Western media reports that the Mujahideen have been defeated. However, they should ask themselves where are all the thousands of Mujahideen who have not yet entered the battle arena on a large scale? And where are the thousands of Taliban soldiers who strategically withdrew from Kabul and surrounding areas? The US soldiers on the ground will soon find out where they are with the Help of Allah. Mujahideen forces in Kunduz yesterday Sunday decided to vacate the centre of Kunduz and move to surrounding mountainous areas.

In areas around Kunduz, there were still heavy battles in progress as Mujahideen guerilla units ambushed Northern Alliance patrols. Fierce fighting continues around Maidan Shahr against Alliance troops. The Alliance is said to have taken heavy casualties. In an organised martyrdom operation on Sunday evening, 500 or so Taliban fighters imprisoned in Mazar-i-Sharif launched an operation against Alliance troops loyal to General Dostum and approximately 100 Special Forces troops that were assisting in interrogating the prisoners. Fighting continued into Monday night with heavy casualties on both sides. Approximately 30 US Special Forces troops were said to have been killed and dozens more injured. US helicopters could be seen evacuating their dead and injured. Elsewhere in the Helmand province of Southern Afghanistan, three units of British SAS Special Forces were ambushed by Taliban forces. In the ensuing firefight, nine soldiers were killed, eight injured (four critically) and two soldiers were captured together with weapons, sophisticated night-vision devices and other tracking instruments.

- Azzam