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Kamal Hyder: Kandahar's 'very rough night'

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The U.S.-led airstrikes on Kandahar, Afghanistan, continued from Thursday afternoon into Friday with no letup.

CNN's Kamal Hyder is based in the Taliban stronghold. He filed this report.

HYDER: The air raids on Kandahar started as early as 2 in the morning, even though that was a continuation of the attacks from yesterday. The city of Kandahar had a very rough night last night, with several bombs coming down on the city center.

This morning, again, allied jets flew over Kandahar. One lone jet drew anti-aircraft artillery fire from the Taliban. Most people in Afghanistan, and in Kandahar particularly, are bracing for another night of heavy bombardment.

CNN: What can you tell us about Northern Alliance claims that they are making a very intense advance on the strategic city of Mazar-e Sharif?

HYDER: It's surprising here. When they talk about the attack on Mazar-e Sharif, they say the Northern Alliance was gearing up for an attack on Kabul, but now know they can't take Kabul and therefore they're concentrating their effort on Mazar-e Sharif -- that's what the Taliban say.

They say the Taliban morale is very high and they know the strategic importance of Mazar-e Sharif to both sides -- to the allies and the Northern Alliance, and to the Taliban.

And they say they're going to hold it, no matter what the cost.

CNN: The Northern Alliance says that overnight it stopped the offensive, to give the Taliban forces there a chance to leave the city. Has the Taliban commented on that?

HYDER: There are no comments to that effect. Position claims are not repeated here by the Taliban authorities, and the Taliban continue to say that they are defiant. They certainly seem to be defiant and upbeat about any possible defense of Mazar-e Sharif. They say they're quite capable of defending the city for some time to come.