Some 500 American and allied military personnel are in Afghanistan working with the opposition Northern Alliance, the Afghan Islamic Press has reported the Taliban as claiming.
"According to our information so far 500 Americans and their allies have reached opposition areas including professional soldiers and experts on technical affairs and training," said Taliban military intelligence chief Qari Ahmadullah.
"The majority of these people are in Faizabad, in the centre of Badakhshan province," he said.
AFP