Intense fighting in Panjshir; Resistance claims Taliban committing war crimes

By Asianet Newsable English | First Published Sep 3, 2021, 7:09 PM IST

Afghanistan's self-proclaimed acting vice-president, Amrullah Saleh accused the Taliban of blocking humanitarian access to Panjshir.

Heavy fighting is reportedly underway in the Panjshir Valley between the Taliban militia and the Afghan resistance forces.

Hundreds of families have fled the area amid intense exchange of fire for control of the last stronghold of the Afghan resistance.

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Afghanistan's self-proclaimed acting vice-president, Amrullah Saleh accused the Taliban of blocking humanitarian access to Panjshir.

He said that Taliban militia has been resorting to racial profiling of travellers, using military-age men of Panjshir as mine clearance tools walking them on minefields, disconnected phones and electricity in the region.

Accusing the Taliban of committing war crimes, Saleh called upon world leaders and the United Nations to take note of the acts.

Meanwhile, certain reports, especially originating from Pakistan, claimed that fighting had stopped in some areas after resistance fighters surrendered before the Taliban. However, such reports remain unsubstantiated.

Both sides have claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on their adversary.

The rugged Panjshir Valley, situated around 80 kilometres north of Kabul, has been fighting off Taliban onslaught ever since the latter stormed the capital on August 15 and seized power.

The Taliban has been trying to make inroads into the Panjshir Valley. However, their attempts to sneak in from the west through Puli Hisar and the Andarab Valley and from the south through the Gulbahar area reportedly ended disastrously.

The resistance forces, which are being led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of slain commander, Ahmad Shah Massoud, are well equipped and has just enough fighters to keep the Taliban at bay.

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