Sunday, 05 September 2021 | AGENCIES/Reuters | Kabul
Panjshir gains disputed by Resistance Force
Celebratory gunfire resounded in Kabul on Friday as reports spread of the Taliban’s takeover of Panjshir, and news agencies said at least 17 people were killed and 41 hurt in the firing.
Sources in the Taliban told news agency Reuters on Saturday that its fighters had taken Panjshir Valley, the final holdout in its quest to seize Afghanistan. “By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of the entire Afghanistan. The troublemakers have been defeated and Panjshir is now under our command,” one Taliban commander was quoted as saying. Heavy fighting continues in the valley and has left hundreds dead till now.
However, resistance leaders denied the claim to Reuters. “News of Panjshir conquests is circulating on Pakistani media. This is a lie,” said Ahmad Massoud, who is leading the rebels.
Meanwhile, former president Hamid Karzai in a statement has asked the Taliban and the “resistance front” in Panjshir to stop the fighting and resolve their issues through talks, TOLO news reported.
The Taliban source also said the announcement of a new Government would be pushed back to the next week.
Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, reported by some Taliban sources to be in line to lead the new Government, said in remarks on Qatar’s Al Jazeera channel that the new administration “will include all factions of the Afghan people”.
“We are doing our utmost efforts to improve their living conditions. The Government will provide security, because it is necessary for economic development,” he said.
Meanwhile, some signs of normality returned to Kabul.
Qatar’s ambassador to Afghanistan said a technical team was able to reopen Kabul airport to receive aid, according to Al Jazeera, which also cited its correspondent as saying domestic flights had restarted.
The airport has been closed since the United States on August 30 completed the evacuations of more than 1,20,000 US citizens, other foreigners and Afghans deemed at risk from the Taliban, and withdrew the last of its troops.
The Taliban’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, also said one of the main foreign exchange dealers in Kabul had reopened.
Afghanistan’s economy has been thrown into disarray by the Taliban’s takeover. Many banks are closed and cash is scarce.
The United Nations said it will convene an international aid conference on September 13 to help avert what UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called a “looming humanitarian catastrophe”.
Western powers say they are prepared to engage with the Taliban and send humanitarian aid, but that formal recognition of the Government and broader economic assistance will depend on action — not just promises — to safeguard human rights.
