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August 17, 2003
   
Several hundred Taliban fighters attacked, at night, a government compound in Paktia province (300 kilometers south of the capital). Fifteen Taliban and seven soldiers were killed before the Taliban retreated.  

The government has collected $85 million in taxes so far this year and believes that it is on the way to achieving its goal of getting $200 million. Most of this cash is coming in from taxes levied at the border and previously grabbed by local warlords. This money is still considered worth fighting over and the warlords are very reluctant to give up any more. Money is power and is needed to pay the warlords gunmen.