Afghanistan,US warplanes carried out further attacks today
Taliban fighters,Thousands of the regime's forces are trapped in Kunduz
The former King of Afghanistan has welcomed talks due to start in Berlin next week on the future of the country. King Mohammad Zahir Shah, who is regarded as a key player in the future of Afghanistan, said that he would be willing to send a delegation.
The King had called for the creation of a broad-based government of national unity in Kabul. Afghanistan's Northern Alliance has agreed to attend the talks, which are being held under the auspices of the United Nations.
Meanwhile, Northern Alliance forces besieging the Taliban stronghold of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan have encircled the city. They are now demanding a surrender from the forces inside.
Thousands of Taliban and Pakistani, Arab and Chechen allies are trapped there. Some of them have said that they would fight to the death. However, many of the Taliban fighters are believed to be conscripts who are no longer willing to fight.
The American Defence Secretary has made it clear that he is against allowing members of the Taliban to escape from Kunduz. Donald Rumsfeld said that American Special Forces have been ordered not to take prisoners.
The Northern Alliance General Abdul Rashid Dostum said that he was expecting the arrival of two Taliban commanders at his base in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif to discuss safe passage for their Kunduz fighters. However, he said that foreign fighters would not get the same treatment.
