Kabul: Conflicting reports emerged on Saturday from Panjshir in Afghanistan where fierce fighting continues to rage between the Taliban and Resistance forces who are holding out against take over by the Islamist group.
According to social media accounts of the Panjshir resistance groups, the Taliban forces were fleeing the province after suffering massive losses.
Ahmad Massoud, who is leading the Resistance forces in the northeastern Panjshir province, said in an audio message that more than 700 Taliban were killed, 600 captured and imprisoned, and the rest are trying to escape. “We are in the frontline, everything was planned. We control the whole province,” he said in the video message.
Some pro-resistance Twitter handles giving information on the fighting put up videos of the Taliban fleeing Panjshir, as well as pictures and videos of many dead Taliban lying on the mountainside.
According to these handles, the Taliban were defeated at the gates of Wardavi, Panjshir, and were trapped in Khawak, where many were captured.
A handle called Panjshir Resistance posted that the Taliban have entered Panjshir Valley and heavy fighting is going on between the National Resistance Front forces of Massoud and the Taliban.
“Many Taliban fighters have died till now, while also some from the resistance forces. We continue our war for freedom of Afghanistan,” it said.
A “general uprising” was also declared on Saturday against the Taliban aggression in Panjshir, according to which “no one should sit at home, everyone should stand ready and take up arms to defend themselves and their villages.”
Earlier in the day, some handles said that the Taliban were allowed to get inside Panjshir, and then were taken by surprise with ambushes in many areas.
“After hours of fighting and hundreds of casualties, they were able to run away,” it said, posting a video of a line of Taliban vehicles leaving the area.
The Resistance forces also blew up a part of a narrow mountain path, leading to the Taliban getting trapped inside Panjshir valley due to the large rocks blocking the way.
“Narrow entrance to Panjshir, Dalan Sang gorge, has been blown off by NRF, making it impossible for the Taliban to leave the valley. Estimated 180 Humvees and a great amount of ammunition along with 100s of Taliban fighters are currently trapped inside Anaba,” one handle said.
