Monday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the group has taken complete control of the Panjshir province. The news comes after intense clashes between the Taliban and National Resistance Front (NRF) broke out over the last couple of days.
In an official statement, Zabihullah Mujahid informed of the Taliban conquering Panjshir. The Taliban also assured the people of Panjshir of peace.
“Panjshir province, the last stronghold of the mercenary enemy, was completely conquered,” the Taliban spokesperson tweeted.
Pictures on social media showed Taliban members standing in front of the gate of the Panjshir Provincial governor’s compound.
Moreover, videos of the Taliban hoisting their white flag over the Panjshir Governor’s Office are making the rounds on social media.
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The video shows a group of Taliban raising their flag while congratulating each other.
#Taliban hoisted their white flag over #PANJSHIR Governor's Office.
In a statement issued from IEA office, people of Panjshir have been assured of peace. pic.twitter.com/sl5qNapd9R https://t.co/fiElEwzTFS
— Sumaira Khan (@sumrkhan1) September 6, 2021
Taliban claimed on Sept 4, that they captured four of the seven districts of Panjshir Valley. The Valley was the last Afghan province out of the country’s 34 provinces. Sunday, Taliban sources close to GVS informed that Panjshir will fall within 24 hours.
It seems as if the Taliban really did claim victory within 24 hours as this morning the group’s spokesperson informed of the Taliban conquering Panjshir.
Read more: Panjshir may surrender to Taliban within next 24 hours
Taliban forces said they had fought their way into the provincial capital of Panjshir after securing the surrounding districts.
The Panjshir Valley is famed for being the site of resistance to Soviet forces in the 1980s and the Taliban in the late 90s.
The NRF denies Taliban taking over Panjshir
While the Taliban claim of taking over Panjshir, the NRF has denied such claims. They said that reports of the Taliban taking complete control of the restive valley were untrue.
“The Taliban haven’t captured Panjshir I am rejecting Taliban claims,” Ali Maisam, spokesman for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), told the BBC.
Moreover, the NRF pledged to carry on fighting. The NRF said it was present in “strategic positions” across the valley
“NRF forces are stationed at all key positions on the valley to continue the battle,” said the resistance forces. “The struggle for justice, freedom will continue against the Taliban and their partners.”
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