Taliban successes in the North

[Cole]

First of all. Afghan population data is notoriosly unreliable. That said, the article is about Qeysar, not Gormach. The TB allready controls Gormach, this story is about how they are effectively advancing into Uzbek dominated Qeysar and taking control over Uzbek villages unchecked.

They specifically mention Gormach and other northern districts and provinces that are admittedly much different circumstances in some cases (Kunduz, Baghlan). However look at the acknowedged simplistic ethnic breakdown in this article. For folks looking at the chart unfamiliar with province locations, look at the small brown L-shaped area along the northern border with green Tajiks to the south and red Uzbeks to the east:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-...ic-fault-lines

And Qeysar is next to Gormach and part of a small Taliban stronghold surrounded by Tajiks and Uzbeks.

Sure, the census may not be all that exact, but if 13% of a 833K-1 miilion Faryab citizens are Pashtun, how are you getting 300,000 Pashtuns? Are you counting 100,000 Kuchis...which still leaves a bit over 200,000.