On Monday, the Taliban claimed victory after taking control of Panjshir, the last Afghan province resisting the group.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, stated, “The last nest of the enemy, Panjshir province, was completely conquered … We assure the honorable people of Panjshir that they will not face any discriminatory treatment”.
Mujahid added, “They are all our brothers, and we will work for one country and one common goal”.
With the recent efforts and this victory, our country is completely out of the vortex of war.
Zabihullah Mujahid
The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan said Monday on Twitter that the Taliban claims are false and they are still fighting in the valley where Panjshir is located.
However, a senior NRF official told the Washington Post that the Taliban has taken over. They said, “Yes, Panjshir has fallen. Taliban took control of government offices. Taliban fighters entered into the governor’s house”.
NRF leader Ahmad Massoud has reportedly said he wants to stop fighting and negotiate with the Taliban. Massoud wrote on Facebook, “The NRF in principle agree to solve the current problems and put an immediate end to the fighting and continue negotiations”.
Following the fall of Panjshir, Taliban members celebrated in Kabul with gunfire, killing 17 and wounding 41. Zabihullah Mujahid responded, “Avoid shooting in the air and thank God instead. Bullets can harm civilians, so don’t shoot unnecessarily”.