The Taliban claim to have ‘completely captured Panjshir Valley,’ but Afghan resistance leaders deny this
KABUL: After days of fighting, the Afghan National Resistance Front was defeated on Monday when the Taliban seized complete control of Panjshir province in northeastern Afghanistan.
“The Taliban have taken complete control of Panjshir province, the last area in Afghanistan held by resistance forces,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamist militant group, according to media reports.
As a result, the Afghan Taliban now control all 34 provinces of the country. Images on social media showed Taliban members standing in front of the gate to the provincial governor’s compound in Panjshir.
However, resistance leaders have denied that the Taliban have taken over the Panjshir province. “The Taliban’s claim to have occupied Panjshir is false. To continue the fight, NRF forces are stationed in strategic locations throughout the Valley. “We assure the Afghan people that the fight against the Taliban and their allies will continue until justice and freedom triumph,” the Afghan National Resistance Front was quoted as saying by Media channel.
Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the opposition group fighting Taliban forces, did not respond immediately. The Afghan National Resistance Front admitted on Monday that another senior member of their organization, General Abdul Wudod Zara, had been killed in the conflict between rebel forces and the Taliban.
General Wood was Ahmad Massoud, the Panjshir resistance leader’s nephew. According to Samaa News, Amrullah Saleh has moved to a safe location after a helicopter attacked his house.
The news came shortly after Afghan resistance force spokesperson Fahim Dashti was reported dead by various Afghan media outlets.
“Today, the Afghan National Resistance lost two companions in the holy resistance against oppression and aggression. NRF spokesperson Fahim Dashty and General Abdul Wudod Zara were both killed. May their memory live on forever “According to the Afghan resistance front, as quoted by Samaa News.
Sputnik reported on Sunday that Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance forces in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Panjshir, said the resistance forces are ready to stop fighting and begin negotiations if the Taliban leave the province.
The Panjshir Valley is located in the Hindu Kush mountains about 90 miles north of Kabul. After steamrolling across pro-government troops in a matter of months, the Taliban have been unable to take this major holdout of resistance. The conflict over Panjshir province erupted on Friday night.
