Taliban Claim To Take Control Of Panjshir Valley, Afghan Resistance Front Denies

The Taliban claimed to have conquered the Panjshir valley after an intense battle with the resistance force.

Militiamen of National Resistance Force in Panjshir (Image: AP)

New Delhi: After days of intense battle, the Taliban claimed to have conquered the Panjshir valley by killing important commanders of the Resistance Force on Monday. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah took to Twitter and announced, "The last stronghold of the mercenary enemy, Panjshir province, was completely conquered."

The Taliban spokesperson tweeted a statement in Persian which translates as "Panjshir province was completely conquered and came under the control of the Islamic Emirate. Many Panjshir resistance force members were killed while the dignified have fled the valley. "

READ | Afghan Resistance Force Spokesperson & Ahmad Shah Massoud's Nephew Killed By Taliban In Panjshir

The statement further assures, "the honorable people of Panjshir that they will not be discriminated against as they are all our brothers and we will serve the country with a common goal."

The statement ends by claiming that the war in Afghanistan has ended.

"With these recent victories and efforts, our country has completely come out of the vortex of war, and our people will have a peaceful and happy life in the atmosphere of freedom, independence, and prosperity", the Taliban statement's rough translation in English.

NRF denies Taliban's claims

However, National Resistance Force has denied claims made by the Taliban.

"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 claimed on Twitter.

Earlier during the day, the Taliban had killed two significant members of the National Resistance Force. 

Fahim Dashty, the spokesperson of Ahmad Massoud, who was leading a resistance movement to the Taliban, was killed during fighting with the Taliban in Panjshir, according to a report by TOLOnews.

Also, Another senior member of their group, General Abdul Wudod Zara has been killed during the standoff between rebel forces and the Taliban, quoted ANI.

On Sunday, Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance forces in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Panjshir said resistance forces are ready to cease fighting and start negotiations if the Taliban leave the province. He welcomed proposals from religious scholars for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting.

Ahmad Massoud, head of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), made the announcement on the group's Facebook page. 

"The NRF in principle agree to solve the current problems and put an immediate end to the fighting and continue negotiations," Massoud said in the Facebook post.