Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the resistance forces in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Panjshir, on Monday called for a “national uprising” against the Taliban.
In an audio message sent to the media, National Resistance Front commander Ahmad Massoud said, “Wherever you are, inside or outside, I call on you to begin a national uprising for the dignity, freedom and prosperity of our country.” The Taliban have claimed that they have captured the Afghan province of Panjshir, the last resistance stronghold in the country. Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF) has denied the claim. The NRF said that the resistance forces are present at all strategic positions across the valley to continue with the fight.
Meanwhile, Iran on Monday said it was examining the intervention of Pakistan in Panjshir attacks and said that direct and indirect intervention would only result in the defeat of the aggressors.
Panjshir valley, and said that the siege by the Taliban is “unacceptable in terms of international law and humanitarian law”. “The intervention of Pakistan in the Panjshir attacks is currently under examination. Iran considers inter-Afghan talks as the only solution to the Afghanistan problem,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said.
“I strongly warn that all red lines and obligations under international law must be observed. Iran is closely following developments in Afghanistan, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a regular news briefing.
Thousands of Taliban fighters overran eight districts of Panjshir overnight, according to witnesses from the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing for their safety, Tehran Times reported. As per reports, Pakistan helped the Taliban in its fight against the Resistance Force in Panjshir.
Khatibzadeh said reports from Panjshir were “worrying”. He added the attack on the province was strongly condemned.
After the fall of Kabul on August 15, Panjshir province remained the only defiant holdout where resistance forces led by Ahamd Masoud, the son of late former Afghan guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, were fighting the Taliban.
The geography has witnessed heavy conflict between the warring sides in the past four days and both parties are claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties.
Panjshir has been the stronghold of the National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Massoud and former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself caretaker president. On Sunday, Massoud said that he was ready to cease fighting and start negotiations if the Taliban abandoned the province.
Panjshir was the last Afghan province holding out against the armed group that swept to power last month. Taliban has been facing stiff resistance after pushing deep into the country’s holdout in Panjshir Valley.
Panjshir resistance spokesperson Fahim Dashti was reported dead in a clash with the Taliban on Sunday. He was also the nephew of Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official of the former government who is involved in negotiations with the Taliban on the future of Afghanistan.
In another development, the Taliban claimed that Amrullah Saleh had fled for Tajikistan from Panjshir. There was no confirmation of the claim.
Tehran has condemned Sunday night’s attacks in