ISLAMABAD, May 21: Rashid Dostum's northern empire in Afghanistan appeared to be slipping away as rebellious soldiers gained control of three provinces on Tuesday and threatened at least two others, including his home province of Jozjan, say Afghan officials and residents in the area.

On Dostum's southern flank in Bamyan province, the Taliban religious army claimed to have entered into the province and were waging a bitter battle with its Shiite muslim defenders, Taliban spokesman Haji Daoud said in Pakistan.

The Taliban also claimed to have captured the entire Shebir Pass, a strategic pass barely 150 km north of the Afghan capital of Kabul.If the Taliban gains control of the pass, it opens the door to a vast plain that is easy to cover en route to Dostum's headquarters in northern Mazar-e-Sharif.

The rebellion, which began on Monday, is being led by Dostum's former general, Malik Pahlawan, who defected to the Taliban religious army to try to topple his former boss.

By late Tuesday there were several reports that Dostum had lost control of a third province, Sar-e-Pul, a small province he created out of a larger Jozjan province in northwestern Afghanistan.

Fighting was also reported in Jozjan province, neighbouring Samangan province and northern Kunduz province.

Dostum has apparently been sent reinforcements by Kabul's ousted military chief Ahmed Shah Massood, although the number of fresh troops he sent was not immediately known.

In the Afghan capital of Kabul, the Taliban religious army said the revolt was gaining momentum and the Taliban leader, Mohammed Omar, offered amnesty to Dostum's commanders if they put down their weapons.

But there was no promise of amnesty for Dostum, a former Communist general in ousted President Najibullah's army before defecting to the Islamic insurgency in 1989.

A UN statement issued in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, said that, ``In view of the new fighting in northern Afghanistan ... Dr Holl reiterates his appeal to the warring factions to stop the bloodshed and to return to the negotiation table.''

International aid workers and residents contacted in Dostum's headquarters in Mazar-e-Sharif said there are reports of heavy fighting as close as eight kilometres west of Mazar.

Shops in Mazar-e-Sharif remained shuttered.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.