Panjshir is surrounded, let’s hold talks: Taliban tell rebels
Afghanistan’s new rulers ask resistance forces in Panjshir province to end the fighting and negotiate a peaceful settlement
KABUL: The Taliban have surrounded the only remaining province resisting its rule, a senior leader said on Wednesday, calling on rebels to negotiate a settlement with the group.
Since the fall of Kabul on August 15, mountainous Panjshir has been the only province to hold out against the Islamist group, although there has also been fighting in neighbouring Baghlan province between Taliban and local militia forces.
Under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud, son of a prominent former Mujahideen commander, several thousand members of local militias and remnants of army and special forces units have been holding out against the Taliban.
In a recorded speech addressed to Afghans in Panjshir, Taliban leader Amir Khan Motaqi called on the rebels to put down their weapons. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is home for all Afghans,” he said.
The Taliban have declared an amnesty for all Afghans who worked with foreign forces during the past two decades but crowds fearing reprisals have continued to flock to the borders in an attempt to flee the landlocked country.
Motaqi said the Taliban had made many efforts to negotiate with leaders of the opposition forces in Panjshir, “but unfortunately, unfortunately, without any result”.
‘No reason to fight’
Taliban forces are making preparations around the four sides of the Panjshir valley and “there is no reason to fight”, Motaqi said, adding that the anti-Taliban forces should keep in mind that it had not been possible to defeat the Taliban even with the support of Nato and US forces.
“We are trying to ensure that there is no war and that the issue in Panjshir is resolved calmly and peacefully,” Motaqi said. The remarks came after seven Taliban fighters were killed during an attempt to advance into the valley.
Qatar’s team in Kabul
A Qatari aircraft landed in Kabul on Wednesday carrying a technical team to discuss the resumption of airport operations after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
“While no final agreement has been reached regarding providing technical assistance, Qatar’s technical team has initiated this discussion based on the other side’s request,” the source added.