The World - News from Sept. 4, 1985

Soviet and Afghan troops battling to break a rebel siege of a strategic town in eastern Afghanistan have suffered more than 1,000 casualties since the offensive began in mid-August, Western diplomats said in New Delhi. “The assault is being carried out to a great extent by Soviet troops, whose number may be as high as 15,000,” said one diplomat, quoting sources in Afghanistan. There was no casualty figure for the rebels in the battle for the town of Khost in Paktia province, 22 miles from the Pakistan border.