Taliban fighters admit dozens killed in resistance front uprising
‘Once more, the situation underlines the need for overdue inclusive solutions in governing Afghanistan’
‘They used loudspeakers to announce if any one fired on the Taliban, locals would be punished collectively’
DOZENS of Taliban fighters were killed in an uprising last week in the most significant military resistance to Afghanistan’s new rulers since their takeover, regime commanders have said.
Fighting in Panjshir province north of Kabul left more than 30 Taliban fighters dead and more wounded, before military leaders flooded the area with reinforcements to regain control.
The clashes marked the biggest operation yet by a resistance front, including some remnants of the former Afghan forces, which promised to launch a military campaign against the Taliban.
The National Resistance Front is led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of the famed late Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who used the Panjshir Valley’s natural defences as a base to resist Soviet and Taliban forces.
Since the insurgents-turned-rulers’ victory over the internationally backed government in August last year, they have held the country largely uncontested except for attacks by the Islamic State group.
But many fear it is only a matter of time before the Taliban’s refusal to widen their government and include former adversaries will foment another chapter of civil war for the country.
Andreas von Brandt, the EU envoy to Afghanistan, said he was “concerned by reports of killings of civilians and mistreatment in Panjshir”.
Unverified videos on social media have claimed to show locals executed by Taliban forces after the conflict. Mr Von Brant said: “Once more, the situation underlines the need for overdue inclusive solutions in governing Afghanistan.”
The Taliban leadership has officially played it down, saying there were “no military incidents” and deriding the NRF as no more than an internet propaganda force.
But speaking with The Daily Telegraph, Taliban fighters and commanders confirmed the clashes.
A Taliban senior security officer said at least 32 fighters had been killed and more than 50 injured over the weekend, adding: “They underestimated the power of the Taliban and started attacking our soldiers... We are making permanent bases in each area with good numbers of Taliban to oppress such resistance.
“The enemy know they don’t have the strength to take over districts. They can only hit and run.”
Many of the Taliban dead were from Helmand province and sources said a plane took more than 20 bodies to the city of Lashkar Gah earlier this week. More than 500 new reinforcements from Helmand had also been dispatched to Panjshir.
Jan Muhammad, another fighter, said most Taliban deaths occurred from ambushes on their pick-up truck convoys, adding: “We did not face any resistance, there is no obvious frontline, but yes, locals helped them.
“Now the new deployment won’t let them even breathe against the Taliban.”
A resident of Abdullah Khel in Panjshir said after the NRF retreated Taliban forces began house searches, adding: “The Taliban arrested and beat anyone they found at home. In my village no men are allowed to leave their houses and the Taliban are building check posts.
“This morning they used loudspeakers to announce if anyone fired on the Taliban, locals would be punished collectively.”
The NRF has vowed to continue its offensive this summer in the north of Afghanistan. There have been reports of further attacks in Andarab district and Takhar province, but analysts have said that without supply lines to neighbouring countries any insurgency will struggle.