Taliban say they have taken Panjshir, last holdout Afghan province

1000’s of Taliban fighters charged into eight districts of Panjshir province in a single day, in keeping with witnesses from the world who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they feared for his or her security. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the province, which is north of the capital, was now held by their fighters.

“We tried our greatest to resolve the issue by negotiations, and so they rejected talks after which we needed to ship our forces to struggle,” Mujahid advised a information convention in Kabul later Monday (Tuesday morning AEST).

The resisting forces have been led by the previous vp, Amrullah Saleh, and in addition the son of the long-lasting anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud. Specialists had doubted that the holdout efforts may succeed long-term in opposition to the Taliban, whose fast advance by Afghanistan met little resistance within the ultimate days of America’s 20-year conflict within the nation.

The US withdrew its final troops every week in the past and ended a harrowing airlift to evacuate Western residents and their Afghan allies that was marred by scenes of desperation and horrific violence.

Throughout that evacuation, hundreds of individuals descended on Kabul’s airport, hoping to flee the nation as a result of they feared what the Taliban’s rule may maintain, given their historical past of repression, significantly of girls. At one level, an Islamic State suicide bomber focused the crowds, killing 169 Afghans and 13 American service members.

Many individuals are nonetheless hoping to go away the nation, however with Kabul’s airport not but working worldwide flights, their decisions are few. Within the nation’s north, officers stated Sunday that a minimum of 4 planes chartered to evacuate a number of hundred individuals have been unable to go away the nation for days. However there have been conflicting accounts about why.

The US is below strain to assist the remaining People and inexperienced card holders go away the nation, and it has promised to work with the brand new Taliban rulers try this — however it has given no timeframe.

An Afghan official on the airport within the northern metropolis of Mazar-e-Sharif stated that the would-be passengers have been Afghans, a lot of whom didn’t have passports or visas, and thus have been unable to go away. Talking on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not licensed to speak to reporters, he stated that they had left the airport whereas the scenario was being sorted out.

However the prime Republican on the US Home International Affairs Committee stated that the group included People and that that they had boarded planes however the Taliban weren’t letting them take off, successfully “holding them hostage.” Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas advised “Fox Information Sunday” that Americans and Afghan interpreters have been being saved on six planes.

He didn’t say the place that data got here from, and it was not instantly doable to reconcile the 2 accounts. The State Division has stated it has no dependable approach to affirm details about such constitution flights.

However the US has helped a household of 4 Americans to flee by an overland route, in keeping with American official. The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk publicly as a result of sensitivity of the matter, wouldn’t give particulars of the evacuation or say which nation they went to.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are touring to the Persian Gulf and Europe this week to debate Afghanistan.

President Joe Biden was requested final night time as he returned to the White Home whether or not he would recognise the Taliban authorities. “That is a good distance off. That is a good distance off,” he stated.

In the meantime, the Taliban say they’re working to restore Kabul’s airport, the place solely home flights have resumed and simply throughout the day for now. Mujahid, the group’s spokesman, advised reporters Monday that American troopers destroyed tools earlier than departing, together with the essential radar system. The US has stated troops destroyed navy tools however left tools helpful for working a civilian airport, like hearth vans.

Technical consultants from Qatar and Turkey have begun repairs, although it is not clear when the airport might be up and working.

The Taliban have pledged to permit anybody with the right authorized paperwork to go away the nation — and several other international locations have stated they’re watching intently to see if the brand new rulers make good on that pledge. The Taliban have usually promised to control extra reasonably than after they have been final in energy within the late Nineties and have become world pariahs for his or her harsh interpretation of Islamic legislation and restrictions on ladies.

Nonetheless, consultants didn’t suppose the anti-Taliban fighters in Panjshir, the final holdout province, had a lot of an opportunity, even given the world’s geographical benefit.

Nestled within the towering Hindu Kush mountains, the Panjshir Valley has a single slender entrance. Native fighters held off the Soviets there within the Nineteen Eighties and in addition, for a short time, the Taliban a decade later below the management of Massoud.

Massoud’s son Ahmad referred to as for an finish to the combating on Sunday. The younger British-schooled Massoud stated his forces have been prepared to put down their weapons however provided that the Taliban agreed to finish their assault. Late on Sunday dozens of autos loaded with Taliban fighters have been seen swarming into the Panjshir Valley.

In a second assertion at the moment, a now-defiant Massoud accused the Taliban of attacking at the same time as they have been able to comply with a cease-fire. He vowed to struggle on, urged Afghans to hitch of their battle in opposition to the Taliban and chastised the worldwide neighborhood for giving the Taliban a platform by opening negotiations with them.

There was no assertion from Saleh, Afghanistan’s former vp who had declared himself the performing president after President Ashraf Ghani fled the nation on August 15 because the Taliban reached the gates of the capital.

The whereabouts of Saleh and the younger Massoud weren’t instantly identified this morning.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, sought to guarantee residents of Panjshir that they’d be secure — at the same time as scores of households reportedly fled into the mountains forward of the Taliban’s arrival.

“There isn’t any want for any extra combating,” Mujahid stated on the information convention. “All Panjshir individuals and those that dwell in Panjshir are our brothers and they’re a part of our nation.”

The Taliban had stepped up their assault on Panjshir on Sunday, tweeting that their forces overran Rokha district, one of many largest within the province.

Mujahid additionally advised reporters that the Taliban would announce a brand new authorities “inside days” — one that may be inclusive, he stated, with out elaborating. As soon as the federal government is shaped, members of the previous Afghan military and safety forces can be requested to return to work to kind a military with Taliban fighters, he added.

Requested what rights ladies would have below the Taliban, Mujahid promised all ladies would ultimately be “requested to return” to their jobs.

The Taliban have claimed unspecified “safety causes” are behind the present gradual tempo of return of Afghan ladies to their workplaces and in addition behind proscribing ladies to their houses, until accompanied by a male guardian. However many who bear in mind their earlier rule are skeptical.