Taliban claims it now controls whole of Afghanistan after taking Panjshir province
The Taliban is claiming it now controls the whole of Afghanistan after taking complete control of Panjshir province, the last area in Afghanistan being held by resistance forces.
A spokesman for the group, Zabihullah Mujahid, issued a statement saying the area had been "completely conquered" and a "number of people" were killed while the "rest fled".
The opposition group, National Resistance Front (NRF), has said the "Taliban's claim of occupying Panjshir is false".
Image: The Taliban has claimed it has complete control of the Afghanistan province Panjshir It added: "The NRF forces are present in all strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight.
"We assure the people of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban and their partners will continue until justice and freedom prevails."
Advertisement
Thousands of Taliban fighters overrun eight districts of Panjshir province overnight, according to witnesses in the area speaking on condition of anonymity.
Panjshir was the last holdout of anti-Taliban forces in the country and the only province the Taliban had not seized during their sweep last month.
More from WorldThe deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission, Ahmadullah Wasiq, said the group has "taken control of the most important areas in Panjshir", and are carrying out "operations in a manner that local people are not harmed".
He added: "We are performing operations in a tactical manner to force the resistance movement to vacate the area. As per our information, Panjshir will come under Islamic Emirate very soon.
"The resistance movement is trying to provide hope to the very few people and encourage them to fight through such claims against us, aiming for their financial gains and to hold on to their power.
"But I don't think they would be able to fulfil their desires. As Panjshir is a province of Afghanistan, it should also come under the regime."
The anti-Taliban fighters had been led by the former vice president and the son of the anti-Taliban fighter, Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed just days before the September 11 attacks in the United States.
0 Response to "Taliban claims it now controls whole of Afghanistan after taking Panjshir province"
Post a Comment