The Taliban claimed that they have conquered the last remaining Afghan resistance holdout in Panjshir valley. Photos of Taliban fighters outside the governor’s compound in Panjshir valley have surfaced on social media, but Ahmad Masoud’s resistance group denies that the province has completely fallen.
The Taliban have fought their way to the capital of Panjshir, the last remaining resistance holdout, and seem at the brink of a total victory. The group posted pictures on social media which show the Taliban fighters standing in front of the government’s compound. Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban, issued a statement, claiming victory over Panjshir. “With this victory, our country is completely taken out of the quagmire of war”, he declared.
“Panjshir province, which was the last remaining nest of the escaped enemy, was cleared this morning and last night,” he added at a press conference. “Emirate forces [Taliban] have an active presence there now”, he said.
Mujahid said that the Taliban forces had tried to take Panjshir without war and violence but all the attempts at negotiations had failed as Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, the leaders of the resistance, had refused a settlement.
Masoud did not reject the Taliban’s claims. In a voice message on Monday, he said that members of his family were killed during the Taliban attack. He urged the resistance to continue.
“I have a message to our people, whether they are inside the country or outside, I ask you to start a national rebellion for the dignity and freedom of this country,” he said. “The resistance front will continue its efforts and will be with Afghans until victory day.”