Tuesday, November 26

Taliban claim seized control of rebel Panjshir valley in Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid, durante una conferencia de prensa en Kabul este lunes.
Zabihullah Mujahid, during a press conference in Kabul this Monday.

Photo: WAKIL KOHSAR / Getty Images

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Monday that the Islamist group has taken control of the province of Panjshir, the only territory in Afghanistan that escaped its dominion.

Panjshir Valley “was cleared today completely, “he assured at a press conference in Kabul, the capital.

He also said that the fighters in the area – the Front of National Resistance (FRN), a multi-ethnic group formed by militias and former members of the Afghan security forces led by the guerrilla Ahmad Massou d

– they refused to negotiate their surrender.

The Taliban sent military forces to get rid of the final stronghold of “terrorism” in the country, Mujahid added, ensuring that there were no civilian casualties.

He also said that the leaders of the Panjshir resistance are “disappeared at the moment” and that seized the weapons of the combatants.

Combatientes antitalibán en Panjshir, 2 de septiembre.
The anti-Taliban movement in Panjshir, on September 2.

Days earlier, the Islamists had posted photos and videos on social media of key places in the valley that they apparently took control of.

During the Taliban press conference, Ali Nazary, the NRF’s foreign affairs chief, said on Twitter that their leader Ahmad Massoud is on except. Massoud himself posted a tweet confirming that information.

So far, the Panjshir resistance has rejected all claims that the valley has fallen into the hands of the Taliban.

“The claim that the Taliban have occupied Panjshir is false , “the group said in a tweet.

Taliban’s claim of occupying Panjshir is false. The NRF forces are present in all strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight. We assure the ppl of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban & their partners will continue until justice & freedom prevails.

– National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (@nrfafg) September 6, 2021

“The NRF forces are present in all strategic positions in the valley to continue the fight. We assure the people of Afghanistan that the fight against the Taliban and their partners will continue until justice and freedom prevail. ”

Pansjhir has been for 40 years a historic bastion of resistance against invading forces, including the Taliban regime of the 90.