KABUL, June 11: Opposition forces captured a northern stronghold from fleeing Taliban soldiers today after a night of heavy fighting, according to eyewitnesses and opposition sources.

The Taliban religious army was driven from Pul-e-Khumri, 150 km north of the Afghan capital after a blistering assault from three different sides. An opposition spokesman said a three-pronged offensive was launched late yesterday with ousted military chief Ahmed Shah Massood moving in from the south, Ismaili Muslim troops from the east and Uzbek forces from the north.

``We captured 500 prisoners in Pul-e-Khumri and the other Taliban fled toward the old city of Baghlan.'' The Taliban religious army is under attack from opposition forces on several fronts. The northern one-third of the country is controlled by anti-Taliban alliance, now called National Islamic Front for deliverance of Afghanistan.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.