[Martin Savidge, Cnn Anchor:] Even as we speak, more developments coming from the battlefields of Northern Afghanistan, specifically the Northern Alliance now claiming that it has captured the key town of Taloqan. And also, in this country, the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld saying that there is still some fighting resistance on the part of the Taliban around another key city, which is Mazar-e Sharif. For the latest on the situation, we want to check in with CNN's Satinder Bindra. He is in Northern Afghanistan, in and around the areas where these confrontations are taking place. Satinder, first let me ask you this: What do we know about Taloqan and the Northern Alliance and their claims to have taken it?
[Satinder Bindra, Cnn Correspondent:] Well Martin, when we spoke last, I told you that the Northern Alliance had launched a major offensive toward Taloqan. Now Northern Alliance forces telling us that their forces have capture Taloqan. What we do know about Taloqan is first, it's about 15 to 20 kilometers south of here, and it was once a major stronghold of the Northern Alliance. So this victory if, indeed, this has happened, will be a significant morale booster, probably second only in line to the victory in Mazar-e Sharif. So clearly, all through the day Northern Alliance commanders have been quite
[Savidge:] Back to the subject of Taloqan. As you mentioned, there is the psychological benefit for the Northern Alliance in taking that town. What is the strategic benefit, if any?
[Bindra:] The strategic benefit of capturing Taloqan means now that the forces of the Northern Alliance can move slightly westward towards another large Taliban-occupied town called Kunduz. And if they can capture Kunduz, then pretty well they've sown up the north, because for the West, Mazar-e Sharif is already with the Northern Alliance forces. So again, there is a strategic importance if, indeed, this news is true, that Taloqan has been captured Martin.
[Savidge:] All right. CNN's Satinder Bindra reporting to us from northern Afghanistan. We want to get more now on these developments as far as victories the Northern Alliance is claiming. This is a news conference by the Northern Alliance. Abdullah Abdullah is the person speaking.
[Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Northern Alliance Foreign Minister:] They are at least to the
[Savidge:] You have been listening to Abdullah Abdullah. He is the spokesperson for the Northern Alliance. That, we believe, coming from Jabal Saraj, which is in northern Afghanistan. Updating, apparently, the successes of the Northern Alliance, which have been relatively significant, according to them, over the past 24-48 hours. The most recent success now, the Northern Alliance claiming to have captured Taloqan. He also reported several hundred dead on the part of the Taliban, dozens of prisoners, but he also mentioned that in some of those engagements, most of the Taliban managed to escape. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com