Kabir Singh
Taliban group claims to take complete control of Afghanistan’s last ‘free’ province held by the forces of the northern alliance. The claim comes from the Taliban’s spokesman, however, resistance forces say they will continue to fight for their motherland.
The Taliban group has taken entire control of Panjshir province, the remaining stronghold in Afghanistan held by resistance troops, says Taliban’s spokesperson, as it solidified its grip over the country three weeks after taking control of Kabul.
On Monday, Taliban’s chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid remarked, “With this victory, our country is entirely removed from the quagmire of war.”
Taliban gunmen were standing in front of the gate to the Panjshir’s governor residence, hoisting their group’s flag, as seen on photos posted on twitter.
National Resistance Front (NRF)
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the National Resistance Front (NRF) said the Taliban’s declaration of victory was fake and that opposition forces were still fighting in “critical areas” from across Panjshir valley.
The location of opposition leader Ahmed Massoud and former vice president Amrullah Saleh, who joined the resistance front after the collapse of Kabul, were unknown at the time. However, in his recent tweet, Massoud stated that he was safe.
After President Ashraf Ghani fled the nation following the Taliban takeover on August 15, Saleh declared himself acting president.
Local warriors loyal to Massoud, the son of legendary anti-Soviet and anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud, as well as Afghan military remnants who resorted to the Panjshir Valley, around 125 kilometres (78 miles) north of Kabul, represent the NRF.
Meanwhile, the NRF reported in a tweet on Sunday that the recent attack had martyred their spokesman Fahim Dashty, a renowned Afghan journalist, and General Abdul Wudod Zara.
US Secretary of State Travels Qatar
As US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travelled to Qatar to analyse the fractious aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the NRF admitted significant combat losses and urged for a ceasefire.
The Panjshir Valley
The Panjshir Valley is known for its resistance to Soviet troops in the 1980s and in the late 1990s, it was recognized for its rigidity to the Taliban.
The Taliban launched an attack on the province not long after Kabul surrendered. On September 4, Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi said that the Panjshir districts of Khinj and Unabah had been taken.
After settling in Kabul three weeks ago, the Taliban has yet to form a new administration. Meanwhile the Taliban group has imposed a new set of islamic rules for women in Afghanistan.
Earlier on Sunday, Massoud had called for an end to the Taliban’s fight. He had stated that his soldiers were only willing to lay down their arms provided the Taliban stopped attacking.
On the other hand, Taliban’s Mujahid has previously stated that people of the province would be protected under the group’s leadership.
In a statement, Mujahid added, “We pledge complete trust to the honourable people of Panjshir that they will not be subjugated to any prejudice, that we are all brothers, and that we will serve a country and a single objective.”
Iran rebukes Taliban’s act on Panjshir
Taliban claim that a new government will be announced soon
Mujahid told Reuters that the new Afghan administration would be declared soon, although he did not specify a date. He disputed that there were disagreements inside the group over the creation of the administration.
Women had resumed work in the health and education sectors, said Mujahid. “One by one other employment sectors will also be offered as the system for them (women) is established,” he added.
UN spokesperson meets the Taliban
On Sunday, Taliban’s top leaders, including Mullah Baradar, met the United Nations’ Under-Secretary (General Humanitarian Affairs) Martin Griffiths at Kabul’s foreign ministry, ANI Report.
Mr. Griffiths says in a tweet, “UN reaffirmed its commitment for impartial humanitarian help and protection to Afghan citizens.”
Afghanistan airport, rescue flights are unable to depart, says US officials
At least four planes poised to rescue several hundred people from the country seem unable to fly for days, according to officials. According to the Associated Press, American and Afghan authorities provided contradictory reasons for the delay.
The passengers who were intended to board aircraft were Afghans, according to an Afghan source at the Mazar-e-Sharif airport, and most of them did not even have passports or visa permits.
Meanwhile, a representative of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee stated that the evacuation included Americans and that the Taliban were effectively “holding them hostage” by refusing to let the planes take off.
Also read: Afghanistan’s female judges being the target of released prisoners.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings