Afghanistan: Taliban claims victory in Panjshir, but resistance forces say they still control strategic position

Though it didn’t deny the middle of Panjshir had fallen to the militants, the NRF stated different areas in Panjshir remained underneath its management.

“Most of Bazarak district and all of the aspect valleys are managed by the NRF,” Nazary stated.

“Taliban’s declare of occupying Panjshir is fake. The NRF forces are current in all strategic positions throughout the valley to proceed the battle. We guarantee the individuals of Afghanistan that the battle towards the Taliban and their companions will proceed till justice and freedom prevails,” the NRF stated.

The declare comes after a weekend of intense preventing within the Panjshir Valley, with heavy casualties reported.

Earlier, Taliban spokesman Belal Kareemi informed CNN the group’s militant fighters had taken all districts of Panjshir province aside from the capital of Bazarak and Rokha districts, which stay underneath NRF management. However resistance fighters appeared to rebut the Taliban’s claims.

For 2 weeks the NRF, a multi-ethnic group that features former Afghan safety drive members and reportedly numbers within the 1000’s, has continued the battle towards the Taliban following the militants’ almost-complete takeover of Afghanistan.

NRF chief Massoud stated the group agreed to sure measures “to facilitate the necessities of nationwide peace and safety within the nation” and “hopes that the Taliban will reply to the request of the clerics and take sensible steps.”

“The Nationwide Resistance Entrance is able to instantly finish the battle as a way to obtain lasting peace, if the Taliban finish their assaults and army operations in Panjshir and Andarab,” Massoud stated.

“The Nationwide Resistance Entrance totally helps the decision of the spiritual students to elevate the penalties imposed on Panjshir and hopes that the Taliban group will take this Islamic and humanitarian demand critically and implement it,” he added.

“The Nationwide Resistance Entrance proposes that the Taliban cease its army operations in Panjshir, Andarab, Parwan and Kapisa and withdraw its forces from Panjshir and Andarab. In return, the Nationwide Resistance Entrance will direct its forces to chorus from army motion,” Massoud stated. Parwan and Kapisa are neighboring provinces to Panjshir.

There’s been no official Taliban response to Massoud’s proposals.

After his feedback, the NRF stated its spokesmen Fahim Dashty and Common Abdul Wudod Zara had been killed.

“Regretfully, the Nationwide Resistance of Afghanistan misplaced two companions within the holy resistance towards oppression and aggression as we speak,” the group tweeted. “Could their reminiscence be everlasting!”

On Sunday, Taliban spokesman Kareemi claimed the enemy had suffered “heavy casualties,” together with amongst their commanders, and that the Taliban hope to have the ability to “clear Panjsher as quickly as doable.” Taliban fighters are at present advancing towards Rokha and Bazarak, Kareemi added.

Earlier than his loss of life, NRF spokesman Dashti appeared to rebut the Taliban’s claims, tweeting that the Paryan district of Panjshir was “utterly cleared” of the Taliban.

“At the least 1,000 terrorists had been trapped because of the reducing of their method out. All of the attackers had been both killed, surrendered or captured by locals with assist from resistance fighters as they fled and retreated. Many of those prisoners are foreigners and most of them are Pakistanis‌,” Dashti stated.

CNN has not been capable of independently confirm the general casualty figures within the newest rounds of preventing.

Taliban pledge humanitarian workers security and safety

The United Nations stated in a press release on Sunday that Taliban authorities “pledged that the protection and safety of humanitarian workers, and humanitarian entry to individuals in want, might be assured and that humanitarian employees — each women and men — might be assured freedom of motion.”

It comes after UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths met with Taliban co-founder and deputy chief Mullah Baradar and different senior Taliban figures in Kabul to reiterate the UN’s dedication to humanitarian support there.

“On this assembly, Mr. Griffiths reiterated the humanitarian neighborhood’s dedication to ship neutral and unbiased humanitarian help and safety to tens of millions of individuals in want,” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-Common António Guterres, stated in a press release.

The UN stated Afghanistan “faces a looming humanitarian disaster” fueled by battle, drought and starvation. Half the nation’s inhabitants — 18 million individuals — want humanitarian help to outlive and the scenario will change into extra acute as a extreme drought, the second in 4 years, will additional contribute to starvation within the months forward, in accordance with Dujarric.

On Sunday, support planes from Qatar and Bahrain arrived in Kabul, transporting greater than 50 tons of medical support and meals merchandise to the nation. Qatar despatched a airplane carrying 26 tons value of support, in accordance with a Qatari Ministry of Overseas Affairs assertion, and from Bahrain, a airplane carrying 25 tons of support arrived, in accordance with Mustafa Al Sayed, Secretary Common of Bahrain’s Royal Humanitarian Basis.

That is the second cargo of support to reach at Kabul airport from Qatar because the US troop withdrawal from the nation in late August. The primary cargo arrived Saturday, with a airplane transporting some 17 tons of support, in accordance with a Ministry of Overseas Affairs assertion.