Taliban Announces Full Control over Panjshir, resistance forces says ready for talks
The Afghan province of Panjshir, a resistance stronghold, is now under “Taliban’s” full control, Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced Monday.
“Recent efforts to ensure complete security in the country have also brought results and the Panjshir Province has come under the full control of the Islamic Emirate [the self-reference name used by the Taliban],” Mujahid said.
Panjshir is the stronghold of the National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of late ex-Afghan guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself caretaker president.
Panjshir resistance spokesperson Fahim Dashti died in a clash with the Taliban on Sunday, a source from the resistance forces told Sputnik.
On Sunday, Massoud said that he was ready to cease fighting and start negotiations if the Taliban abandoned the Province. Moreover, Massoud had called for a negotiated settlement with the Taliban before the fighting broke out about a week ago.
