MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned that U.S.-led forces are stepping up attacks on Taliban frontline positions. CNN's Matthew Chance has the latest from northern Afghanistan -- Matthew.</s>MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Martin. Some significant developments we'd like to pass on to you, now that it's come through to us within the last couple of hours. In fact, the CNN crew stationed at the frontline here, north of Kabul, has witnessed what it says a series of U.S.-led attacks against Taliban frontline positions in the -- on the</s>SAVIDGE: Matthew, is there anything specifically, say geographically, in that area that would draw the attention of the United States, besides the Taliban forces?</s>CHANCE: I don't think so, no. I mean the main strategic reason for the strikes, it appears, is that these Taliban troop concentrations are the main obstacle to the Northern Alliance advance on the capital, Kabul, those frontlines just 25 kilometers, as I mentioned, from Kabul. They're stationed, the Taliban troops, on a mountain which basically blocks the road towards Kabul of the Northern Alliance. Northern Alliance commanders have been expressing their frustration for some time that the U.S.-led strikes so far have concentrated more on targets deep inside Afghanistan and not enough on those frontline targets that they fight on a day-to-day basis. The removal of those frontlines, those Taliban positions of course, would essentially open the way for a Northern Alliance advance on the capital -- Martin.</s>SAVIDGE: CNN's Matthew Chance reporting to us live from northern Afghanistan on the fact that U.S.-led forces appear to be stepping up attacks on the Taliban forces. Thank you very much, Matthew. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
U.S. Forces Step Up Attacks on Taliban