Mazar-e Sharif The front line of Alliance vs. Afghanistan Has the largest airport in Afghanistan. It could Taliban fighting Here's a look at what’s been happening in and around serve as a staging area or refueling depot for U.S. helicopters and commandos. The line shifts but generally weaves Afghanistan since attacks began three weeks ago: through Pol-e Khomri southwest to TURKMENISTAN UZBEKISTAN Bamian. If the Northern Alliance Chaghcharan takes these towns, its forces will have Pentagon officials reported last week traversed the Badakhshan mountain that Northern Alliance troops had taken Dushanbe range and could link up with forces the city, which would give the alliance Aqchah around Mazar-e Sharif. control over lines of communication and Taloqan: Controls the western slope resupply between Kabul and Herat. Kholm TAJIKISTAN Sheberghan Konduz of the nation’s highest mountain Taloqan range. Taliban forces have tried to Samangan keep the city secured because of its Baghlan Herat importance as a jumping-off point for Capturing Herat, the reinforcing troops under attack in Bamian Kunar CHINA largest city in western Shindand Mazar-e Sharif. Afghanistan, would Jalalabad Baghlan: Sits on the western slopes anchor the northwest and of the Badakhshan range, another AFGHANISTAN Khyber Pass protect the Northern Farah dividing line between the Northern Khost Peshawar Alliance's weakest front. Ghazni Alliance’s main territory in the Nowshera northeast and Taliban forces. IRAN Zaranj Islamabad Suspected terrorist Rawalpindi training campZsahedan Kabul Afghan air bases Afghanistan’s capital. Northern Alliance troops have Quetta Taliban army bases PAKISTAN pulled to within 25 miles from the north. They’ve held Approximate areas Kandahar back from attacking to concentrate on Mazar-e Sharif and controlled by the Lahore Taloqan and because U.S. officials have pressured Alliance Northern Alliance Taliban’s base of operations and leaders to wait until agreement has been reached on what area where al-Qa’eda leader Multan Russian army bases type of government would replace the Taliban if Kabul Osama bin Laden has been known falls. Pakistan is opposed to a government dominated by Allied ground attack to operate. Heavily targeted in the Alliance, which, like the Taliban, has been accused of U.S.-led bombing campaign. U.S. human rights abuses. Airstrikes special operations forces raided an airstrip and Taliban command and Gwadar control facility in the vicinity of INDIA Ormara the city overnight Friday in the Taliban Forces first known ground operations. Masroor Within Mazar-e Sharif are estimated at 2,500-3,000 troops,at least 10 tanks and some artillery. Karachi Arabian Sea In Kabul are estimated at 40,000. Hyderabad Pakistani air force bases Taliban forces in the south and other parts of Afghanistan are Pakistani army bases USS Carl Vinson USS Enterprise estimated at 35,000-100,000. Battle Group Battle Group Pakistani navy bases Many of the Taliban's planes, airstrips and other assets have been destroyed in U.S.-led bombing raids. 0 200 40,000 U.S. sailors and Marines on 50 ships Miles

Source: Gannett Newspapers THE SEATTLE TIMES