The Anti-Taliban movement in Afghanistan - will it succeed?

[MenInG]

The son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of the main leaders of Afghanistan's anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s, has pledged to hold out against the Taliban from his stronghold in the Panjshir valley.

In a Washington Post editorial, Ahmad Massoud, the 32-year-old son of the former mujahideen commander, said members of the Afghan military including some from the elite Special Forces units had rallied to his cause and he appealed to the West for help.

"We have stores of ammunition and arms that we have patiently collected since my father's time, because we knew this day might come," he said in the editorial, adding that some of the forces who had joined him had brought their weapons.

"If Taliban warlords launch an assault, they will of course face staunch resistance from us," he said.

The editorial follows a declaration by Amrullah Saleh, one of Ahmad Shah Massoud's closest aides who later became vice president, that he was the rightful president of Afghanistan after Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul as Taliban insurgents seized the capital on Sunday.

The Panjshir valley north of Kabul is still littered with the wrecked carcasses of Soviet armoured vehicles destroyed in unsuccessful battles to conquer it, and the region also held out against the Taliban when they ruled Afghanistan in 1996-2001.

Ahmad Shah Massoud was killed days before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States by al Qaeda militants who enjoyed Afghan sanctuary under Taliban rule, and his name continues to carry huge weight both in Afghanistan and around the world.

However, it remains unclear whether forces in Panjshir would be able to repel any attack by Taliban forces, which have not so far tried to enter the narrow valley, or whether Massoud's declaration is a preliminary step towards negotiations.

He said his forces would not be able to hold out without help from the West and he appealed for support and logistical help from the United States, Britain and France.

"The Taliban are not a problem for the Afghan people alone. Under Taliban control, Afghanistan will without doubt become ground zero of radical Islamist terrorism; plots against democracies will be hatched here once again," he said.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2316371/son-of-slain-afghan-hero-massoud-vows-resistance-seeks-support

 

[MenInG]

Flag-waving protesters took to several Afghan cities on Thursday and several people were killed when Taliban fighters fired on a crowd, a witness said, in the first popular opposition to the militants since they seized the capital.

"Our flag our identity," a crowd of men and some women waving black, red and green national flags shouted in Kabul, a video clip posted on social media showed.

One woman walked with a flag wrapped around her shoulders. Afghanistan celebrates its 1919 independence from British control on Aug. 19.

A Taliban spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

In Asadabad, capital of Kunar province, several people were killed during a rally but it was not clear if the casualties resulted from the firing or from a stampede that it triggered, witness Mohammed Salim said.

"Hundreds of people came out on the streets," Salim said. "At first I was scared and didn't want to go but when I saw one of my neighbours joined in I took out the flag I have at home."

"Several people were killed and injured in the stampede and firing by the Taliban."

Protesters also took to the streets of the eastern city of Jalalabad and a district of Paktia province.

On Wednesday, Taliban fighters fired at protesters waving in flag Jalalabad, killing three, witnesses and media reported.

In some places, protesters tore down white Taliban flags, according to media. Media reported similar scenes in Asadabad and another eastern city, Khost, on Wednesday.

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who is trying to rally opposition to the Taliban, expressed support for the protests.

"Salute those who carry the national flag and thus stand for dignity of the nation," he said on Twitter.

Saleh said on Tuesday he was in Afghanistan and the "legitimate caretaker president" after President Ashraf Ghani fled as the Taliban took Kabul on Sunday.

Call for end to airport crowds

The crackdown on protests will raise new doubts about Taliban assurances they have changed since their 1996-2001 rule when they severely restricted women, staged public executions and blew up ancient Buddhist statues.

They now say they want peace, will not take revenge against old enemies and would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law.

While Kabul has been generally calm since Taliban forces entered on Sunday, the airport has been in chaos as people rushed for a way out of the country.

Twelve people have been killed in and around the airport since then, a NATO and a Taliban official said. The deaths were caused either by gun shots or by stampedes, the Taliban official said.

He urged people who do not have the legal right to travel to go home. "We don't want to hurt anyone at the airport," said the Taliban official, who declined to be identified.

On Wednesday, witnesses said Taliban gunmen prevented people from getting into the airport compound.

A Taliban official said commanders and soldiers had fired into the air to disperse the crowd. The situation was more calm on Thursday, witnesses said.

The United States and other Western powers pressed on with the evacuation of their nationals and some of their Afghan staff from the capital's airport, from where about 8,000 people have been flown out since Sunday, a Western security official said.

Under a pact negotiated last year by former President Donald Trump's administration, the United States agreed to withdraw its forces in exchange for a Taliban guarantee they would not let Afghanistan be used to launch terrorist attacks.

The Taliban also agreed not to attack foreign forces as they left.

US President Joe Biden said US forces would remain until the evacuation of Americans was finished, even if that meant staying past an Aug. 31 US deadline for withdrawal.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/231635...aving-protests-against-taliban-in-afghanistan

 

[MenInG]

Afghanistan’s defiant former vice president, now self-declared ‘caretaker president’, made one thing clear as the Taliban seized control of the capital on August 15 following the collapse of his government — he will not surrender. It appears Amrullah Saleh has retreated to the country’s last remaining holdout: the Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul.

“I won’t dis-appoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with Taliban. NEVER," he wrote in English on Twitter on Sunday, before going underground.

A day later, pictures began to surface on social media of the former vice president with the son of his former mentor and famed anti-Taliban fighter Ahmed Shah Massoud in Panjshir — a mountainous redoubt tucked into the Hindu Kush.

Saleh and Massoud’s son, who commands a militia force, appear to be putting together the first pieces of a guerilla movement to take on the victorious Taliban, as fighters regroup in Panjshir.

The Taliban have not been able to capture Panjshir because of the location of the valley, which makes it a natural fortress. Famed for its natural defences, the valley never fell to the Taliban even during the civil war of the 1990s, nor was it ever conquered by the Soviets earlier.

Its crucial location, being north of Kabul in the Hindu Kush, gives it a geographical advantage. This was a resistance stronghold against the Soviets in the 1980s and then against the Taliban in the 1990s.

Amrullah Saleh was also born in Panjshir province and was trained there. Since it has always remained the resistance zone, it was never conquered by any forces — neither by foreign forces nor by the Taliban, a report in Hindustan Times said.

“We will not allow the Taliban to enter Panjshir and will resist with all our might and power, and fight them," one resident told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Unverified images show that the flag of the ‘Northern Alliance’ or the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan has once again been hoisted in Panjshir. This is a first after 2001.

There are also reports that Afghan soldiers, who managed to evade Taliban troops, have begun arriving in Panjshir at the call of Ahmad Massoud.

Washington Post reporter Ezzatullah Mehrdad tweeted: “Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, and coming in former defence minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi are forming a resistance force against the Taliban in Panjshir of Afghanistan".

VALLEY OF ‘FIVE LIONS’

The Panjshir valley means the valley of the five lions. The name goes back to a legend from the 10th century, where five brothers managed to contain the floodwaters. They built a dam for Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, it is said.

Reports say that the population of the valley is around one lakh and they are mostly Tajiks. The valley has the country’s largest concentration of ethnic Tajiks.

A SEASONED SOLDIER

Such a battle would be the latest in Saleh’s long struggle against the Taliban as a onetime insurgent turned spy chief and later vice-premier.

Orphaned at a young age, Saleh first fought alongside guerilla commander Massoud in the 1990s.

He went on to serve in his government before being chased out of Kabul when the Taliban captured it in 1996.

The hardliners then tortured his sister in their bid to hunt him down, Saleh has said.

“My view of the Taliban changed forever because of what happened in 1996," Saleh wrote in a Time magazine editorial last year.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE OUR FIGHT’

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Saleh — then a part of the anti-Taliban resistance — became a key asset for the CIA.

The relationship paved the way for him to lead the newly formed Afghanistan intelligence agency, the National Security Directorate (NDS), in 2004.

As NDS chief Saleh is believed to have amassed a vast network of informants and spies inside the insurgency and across the border in Pakistan, where Pashto-speaking agents kept track on Taliban leaders.

The intelligence Saleh gathered provided what he alleged was proof the Pakistani military continued to back the Taliban.

Saleh’s rise however has not been without its share of dramatic stumbles.

In 2010, he was sacked as Afghanistan’s spy chief following a humiliating attack on a Kabul peace conference.

Exiled into the political wilderness, Saleh maintained his fight against the Taliban and Islamabad on Twitter, where he fired off daily tweets taking aim at his longtime foes.

A return to favour came in 2018 when he briefly oversaw the interior ministry after sealing an alliance with president Ashraf Ghani, who has now fled to an unknown location.

Saleh went on to become the former leader’s vice premier.

His most recent political revival came as the United States was preparing to exit Afghanistan and coincided with a series of assassination attempts on Saleh by the Taliban.

His latest close call came last September when a massive bomb targeting his convoy killed at least 10 people in Kabul.

Within hours of the attack, Saleh appeared in a video with his left hand bandaged, promising to fight back.

“We will continue our fight," he said.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/a...anistans-panjshir-his-birth-land-4100060.html

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

He said his forces would not be able to hold out without help from the West and he appealed for support and logistical help from the United States, Britain and France.

"The Taliban are not a problem for the Afghan people alone. Under Taliban control, Afghanistan will without doubt become ground zero of radical Islamist terrorism; plots against democracies will be hatched here once again," he said.

"Ground Zero"

"Islamist terrorism"

I get that these lobby groups are pitching for more western funds, but we've been fleeced for 20 years, do they really think we are a bottomless pit to fund their mafias?

 

[Major]

Depends who is in it.

Amrullah Saleh has joined forces with the Panjshir group. However Ahmrullah Shah belongs to the same party that recognized Firyadi Zardad in the govt who is known for killing many innocent people at his checkpoint at Saurabi. Infact, he had human dog which he would use to scare and kill people or force them to leave their daughters and wives with him.

There isnt any good guy here

 

[PakLFC]

Taliban need to sit with other groups to form a workable government. Forcing themselves on people will only mean more civil war in the country.

 

[wajid]

It is a healthy sign that Taliban are showing restraint. For long term Afghan peace I believe that it is crucial that Taliban don’t go into revenge mode. We all know what Afghan government did to Taliban fighters after their fall. But if Taliban do the same then circles of revenge will continue and more blood will be shed.

I guess first step could be to allow some sort of national army and police force and to give local autonomy to different ethnicities in their areas.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Talibans must open talks with the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

This is the only way forward for them. Otherwise they will provide an opportunity to external warmongering forces for yet another war.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Talibans must open talks with the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

This is the only way forward for them. Otherwise they will provide an opportunity to external warmongering forces for yet another war.

The problem is, Masood’s son doesn’t want it and neither will India let him do it.

However if they sit together and have peaceful talks then it’s all good.

But then again, Amarallah Saleh is now widely portrayed in the Indian media as a hero since he is an Indian RAW trained spy.

 

[Pakpak]

They will be kept supplied by the West and India. Not supplied enough to topple the government but enough to keep Afghanistan unstable.

 

[sweep_shot]

I don't expect anti-Taliban movement to succeed. Let's see.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

They will be kept supplied by the West and India. Not supplied enough to topple the government but enough to keep Afghanistan unstable.

Agreed. But it makes you wonder why bother? If Taliban are as useless and unpopular as the media is presenting, you would think they would get toppled pretty quickly on their own steam.

 

[Devadwal]

Taliban flag put up at lal masjid in Islamabad

 

[mazkhan]

The only way panjshir can be supplied is via airdrops.

If Pakistan doesn't allow flights for nato usa after 31st August.

That only leaves the russians using Tajikistan or Uzbekistan to flyover and drop weapons and food supplies.

Panjshir is landlocked and taliban have it surrounded even including badakshan province which they could not annex In the 90s.

But one panjshirs mount an offensive out of their steep valley they will get beaten up unless there is air support for them to push out.

 

[mazkhan]

Certain areas taliban have been beaten with heavy casualties in baghlan.

There will be an attempt for resistance in North and to create land route with Central asia

Looks like russia wants to create northern alliance volume 2 .

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Certain areas taliban have been beaten with heavy casualties in baghlan.

There will be an attempt for resistance in North and to create land route with Central asia

Looks like russia wants to create northern alliance volume 2 .

So all the ammunition, weapons and humvees left by the Americans with the Afghan army, are now in the hands of Talibans? If that's the case then Taliban seem to be well equipped to counter.

 

[mazkhan]

So all the ammunition, weapons and humvees left by the Americans with the Afghan army, are now in the hands of Talibans? If that's the case then Taliban seem to be well equipped to counter.

How successful the taliban depends on 3 things

Russians and pakistanis and iranians

Russians arm the North

Iranians arm shia militias

Or pakistan Charlie generals who have a history of selling out to the west for bottle of jack Daniels allow airspace use and bases for usa nato to come and drop bombs and drone attacks on taliban targets.

Either way all.3 will.cause massive civil war and the spillover effect would be highest in pakistan which could end up being destabilised like Iraq was when the syrian conflict spilled over and isis moved in.

In pakistans case its ttp and kpk balochistan being set on fire.

For pakistans sake that's why is perative that there is a peaceful solution and some sort of amicable settlement between the various afghan factions

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

How successful the taliban depends on 3 things

Russians and pakistanis and iranians

Russians arm the North

Iranians arm shia militias

Or pakistan Charlie generals who have a history of selling out to the west for bottle of jack Daniels allow airspace use and bases for usa nato to come and drop bombs and drone attacks on taliban targets.

Either way all.3 will.cause massive civil war and the spillover effect would be highest in pakistan which could end up being destabilised like Iraq was when the syrian conflict spilled over and isis moved in.

In pakistans case its ttp and kpk balochistan being set on fire.

For pakistans sake that's why is perative that there is a peaceful solution and some sort of amicable settlement between the various afghan factions

Imran Khan's campaign to stop drone and bombing campaigns using Pakistan turf has been a mainstay of his leadership. I can't see him backtracking on that without losing all credibility so I don't see that happening.

 

[Last Monetarist]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">ماضی میں اسلام آباد کی مشہور لال مسجد میں مبینہ طور پر دہشت گردوں کی موجودگی پر پاکستان فوج کے آپریشن میں درجنوں افراد ہلاک ہو گئے تھے۔<br><br>مزید پڑھیں: <a href="https://t.co/NCVyJpDiMn">https://t.co/NCVyJpDiMn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Islamabad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Islamabad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UrduVOA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UrduVOA</a></p>— VOA Urdu (@URDUVOA) <a href="https://twitter.com/URDUVOA/status/1428695814747066369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[the Great Khan]

How successful the taliban depends on 3 things

Russians and pakistanis and iranians

Russians arm the North

Iranians arm shia militias

Or pakistan Charlie generals who have a history of selling out to the west for bottle of jack Daniels allow airspace use and bases for usa nato to come and drop bombs and drone attacks on taliban targets.

Either way all.3 will.cause massive civil war and the spillover effect would be highest in pakistan which could end up being destabilised like Iraq was when the syrian conflict spilled over and isis moved in.

In pakistans case its ttp and kpk balochistan being set on fire.

For pakistans sake that's why is perative that there is a peaceful solution and some sort of amicable settlement between the various afghan factions

this happened 20 years ago. Its not going to happen again. People underestimate what has actually happened in afghanistan.

1) The IEA made a deal with the americans who sold out Ghani and co

2) nearly 30-40 percent of the new IEA are non pashtun and this includes tajiks and uzbeks from the north

3) The IEA have also made a deal with iran which includes protection of the shia. This was solidifed with the interactions during muharram as you may have noticed

4) Russia and China have both met the IEA ver the last year and even up until a week or so ago. Everyone knew the govt was going to fall except the fool Ghani.

5) The americans made their intentions clear when they decided to join up with Pakistan Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (or was it turkeministan..i cant remember) in a new regional economic grouping to help with connectivity.

6) The IEA have the panjsher valley surrounded. And Ahmed masoods representative is in pakistan with the rest of abdullah abdullahs NA. They are going back to negotiate with the IEA and this includes Karzai.

7) The IEA will be announcing an interim setup soon which will include a council (shura). It is rumoured that the panjsheris will get a seat and so will karzai and abdullah. Or a single representative of this grouping.

8) If the panjsheris resist the IEA will simply cut off the valley and send in the Badr unit 313. backed by air power and artillery. I dont believe this will happen as they made contact with abdullah before entering Kabul.

9) Pakistan ,russia, iran and china are desperate to esnure that another civil war wont kick off while India and other spoilers want the opposite.

10) the ttp and bla etc will continue to cause us problems but nothing like the war on terror where the countrys very existence was in jeopardy. they will remain minor irritants and a nuisance before things calm down. Personally I would rather the army launch an op in balochistan once a new govt is announced in kabul and hunt down these terrorists.

 

[m.shah]

Some reports are saying that anti taliban resistant had recaptured 3 districts and killed 60 taliban fighters.

 

[Afzal_K]

Some reports are saying that anti taliban resistant had recaptured 3 districts and killed 60 taliban fighters.

Oh no, not again - more bloodshed then

 

[MenInG]

A resistance force in Afghanistan killed at least 40 fighters of the Taliban and recaptured three districts in the country, issuing a warning to the radical outfit which took over Afghanistan earlier this week,

According to a media report, the Public's Resistance Forces under Khair Muhammad Andarabi have claimed that they captured Pol-e-Hesar, Deh Salah and Qasaan districts in Afghanistan's Baghlan from the Taliban.

Meanwhile, taking to his official Twitter handle, former acting minister of defence Bismillah Muhammadi said, "Resisting the Taliban terrorists is our duty # Pul-e-Hesar, Deh Salah and Banu districts in Baghlan have been occupied by the resistance forces. Resistance is still alive."

Currently, Bismillah is residing in Panjsheer province, the only region out of the Taliban's control in Afghanistan.

Media reports claim that as many as 40 Taliban fighters have been killed by the resistance force while 15 others were injured. The Taliban is yet to issue a statement on this development.

Earlier on Thursday, the terror group imposed a curfew in Kabul ordering residents to not leave home after 9 pm apart from emergencies.

The Taliban entered the presidential palace in Kabul soon after President Ashraf Ghani left the country. The terror group's control has frightened people to flee the nation.

The Taliban are in talks with the local Afghan leaders in an attempt to form the government and fill the power vacuum.

https://www.timesnownews.com/intern...ban-fighters-recapture-three-districts/801792

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">ماضی میں اسلام آباد کی مشہور لال مسجد میں مبینہ طور پر دہشت گردوں کی موجودگی پر پاکستان فوج کے آپریشن میں درجنوں افراد ہلاک ہو گئے تھے۔<br><br>مزید پڑھیں: <a href="https://t.co/NCVyJpDiMn">https://t.co/NCVyJpDiMn</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Islamabad?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Islamabad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UrduVOA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UrduVOA</a></p>— VOA Urdu (@URDUVOA) <a href="https://twitter.com/URDUVOA/status/1428695814747066369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

ISLAMABAD: Flags representing the Afghan Taliban were found hoisted on the rooftop of a seminary located in the heart of the capital.

Talking to Dawn on condition of anonymity, officers of the capital administration and police said four to five white flags of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were found hoisted on the rooftop of Jamia Hafsa in G-7/3.

The seminary has been under the surveillance of the police for long, they added.

“The flags were spotted after Zuhr prayers and shortly the capital administration and police were informed about it,” they said. In response, the issue was brought under the notice of senior authorities concerned who directed the administration and police to act.

Senior officers of the administration and police reached the seminary and held talks with its administration. Later, the flags were removed before Asr prayers, the officials added.

An officer of the administration said the seminary management told the officers that they had nothing to do with the hoisting of the flags. The issue was inquired and later it was revealed that some students were behind it.

The officials asked the seminary’s administration to remain alert so that such activity was not repeated.

Two senior officers of the capital administration and police said hoisting of any flag was not a crime.

However, hoisting of some flags may spread terror among the citizens. Besides, some flags are also disliked by many people, they added.

The seminary was already under surveillance but after the emergence of the flags, vigilance has further been enhanced.

Two weeks ago, a group of people was spotted with Taliban and Afghanistan’s national flags at Lake View Park.

On Sunday, 10 people carrying Afghanistan’s national flags gathered at F-9 Park and chanted slogans which spread fear among the people present there. The police reached the spot but the group managed to escape.

Later, the police arrested five of them from different areas and recovered Afghan cards from them.

Director Media and SSP (operations) Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer was approached for comments but he did not reply.

The deputy commissioner of Islamabad in a tweet stated: “Lal Masjid affiliated Jamia Hafsa erected Afghan Taliban Flag on the building. Was removed there and then.”

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2021

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Unconfirmed: But a very bad news for Western/Indian warmongers | Great news for Afghans and people who are against a new war in Afghanistan

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">الحمدللہ احمد مسعود نے اپنے ساتھیوں کے ہمراہ طالبان کی حمایت کا یقین دلایا ہے۔ <br>طالبان رہنما خلیل الرحمن حقانی کا کابل میں تقریب کے دوران اعلان <a href="https://t.co/1VmTUV2Pka">pic.twitter.com/1VmTUV2Pka</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429068168350347267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Someone translate it please.

Ahmed Shah Massod's son in Panjshir has decided to choose dialogue over war.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Unconfirmed: But a very bad news for Western/Indian warmongers | Great news for Afghans and people who are against a new war in Afghanistan


Ahmed Shah Massod's son in Panjshir has decided to choose dialogue over war.

Pakistan foreign office along with the intelligence has spoken to him, along with other players advising them to join. Afghans dont want any more war, esp on shedding blood on behalf of Yanks or Indians who dont care for any Afghan.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Pakistan foreign office along with the intelligence has spoken to him, along with other players advising them to join. Afghans dont want any more war, esp on shedding blood on behalf of Yanks or Indians who dont care for any Afghan.

Ha! Sanity prevails.

This was unthinkable in old Afghanistan.

Time for whole world (minus India/Israel etc.) to give a chance to peace.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Unconfirmed: But a very bad news for Western/Indian warmongers | Great news for Afghans and people who are against a new war in Afghanistan

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">الحمدللہ احمد مسعود نے اپنے ساتھیوں کے ہمراہ طالبان کی حمایت کا یقین دلایا ہے۔ <br>طالبان رہنما خلیل الرحمن حقانی کا کابل میں تقریب کے دوران اعلان <a href="https://t.co/1VmTUV2Pka">pic.twitter.com/1VmTUV2Pka</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429068168350347267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Someone translate it please.

Ahmed Shah Massod's son in Panjshir has decided to choose dialogue over war.

What he is saying is, "All Thanks to God and let us Thank God that today, the son of Ahmad Masood, the commander Masood together with his entire group ...." and that's where it stops.

So we don't know what's the actual story; however, if it is true then if I was a Taliban (which i am not), I will be very careful and cautious because only a few days ago this Masood guy pledged allegiance with Amarallah Saleh who is an Indian trained spy in Panjsher.

And this Masood guy, could just act a rat within Talibans to create disruption and share the intelligence with Saleh and RAW.

I think Talibans should put a condition to hand over Amarrallah Saleh to them, who then should be handed over to ISI in Pakistan. And then Masood can join Taliban as much as he wants.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

What he is saying is, "All Thanks to God and let us Thank God that today, the son of Ahmad Masood, the commander Masood together with his entire group ...." and that's where it stops.

So we don't know what's the actual story; however, if it is true then if I was a Taliban (which i am not), I will be very careful and cautious because only a few days ago this Masood guy pledged allegiance with Amarallah Saleh who is an Indian trained spy in Panjsher.

And this Masood guy, could just act a rat within Talibans to create disruption and share the intelligence with Saleh and RAW.

I think Talibans should put a condition to hand over Amarrallah Saleh to them, who then should be handed over to ISI in Pakistan. And then Masood can join Taliban as much as he wants.

Thanks bro!

Let's see. I will keep a very close eye on whatever goes in Panjshir. It is a very critical area and time frame for Afghanistan's future.

If Masood has local support, then Taliban should give him governance of the region and get over with it.

After getting Kabul, and all big capitals without excessive bloodshed, now violence would be pointless.

Time for USA/Nato/China/Russia/Pak to play their role and "encourage" a peaceful resolution.

I don't think Taliban even care for RAW/Saleh at this point, what are Raw gonna do? Kill some Afghans with their suicide bombers? People will forget it by supper time...

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Gul Agha Sherzai "minister of border and tribal affairs" under Ghani the rat's puppet Kabul administration just joined Taliban:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">اشرف غنی حکومت کے وزیر سرحدی امور گل آغا شیرازی نے بھی طالبان کی حمایت کا اعلان کردیا۔ طالبان نے ان کو امارات اسلامیہ افغانستان کا بلڈوزر قرار دیا <a href="https://t.co/lfmH4FId6H">pic.twitter.com/lfmH4FId6H</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429330778765336579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

IMO, yet another intelligent maneuver by Taliban. More talks and less bullets is the way forward.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Taliban are freeing jailed political adversaries (Shias including):

Of course, this will never get reported in "news" media cuz it goes against the 'fake news' narrative

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">طالبان نے صوبہ ہرات میں مزید 105 سیاسی قیدی رہا کردیئے جبکہ اس سے پہلے صوبہ فاریاب اور ارزگان میں بھی سینکڑوں سیاسی قیدیوں کی رہائی عمل میں لائی گئی ہیں <a href="https://t.co/1gbp45rUSc">pic.twitter.com/1gbp45rUSc</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429327927221628936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

--

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">طالبان نے صوبہ فاریاب میں 100سیاسی قیدیوں کو رہا کردیا <a href="https://t.co/clfh3ykzQQ">pic.twitter.com/clfh3ykzQQ</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429325759097757700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[m.shah]

Unconfirmed: But a very bad news for Western/Indian warmongers | Great news for Afghans and people who are against a new war in Afghanistan

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">الحمدللہ احمد مسعود نے اپنے ساتھیوں کے ہمراہ طالبان کی حمایت کا یقین دلایا ہے۔ <br>طالبان رہنما خلیل الرحمن حقانی کا کابل میں تقریب کے دوران اعلان <a href="https://t.co/1VmTUV2Pka">pic.twitter.com/1VmTUV2Pka</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429068168350347267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Someone translate it please.

Ahmed Shah Massod's son in Panjshir has decided to choose dialogue over war.

Bad news for indian media. They were portraying him and that Vice President as heroes.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Yet another backhand slap on the faces of warmongers

Prominent Shia Politician Jafar Mehdi talking with Taliban Haqqani leader

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">شعیہ ہزارہ برادری سے تعلق رکھنے والے سیاستدان جعفر مہدی نے کابل میں طالبان کے رہنما انس حقانی سے ملاقات کی اور قومی حکومت کی تشکیل پر بات چیت کی <a href="https://t.co/0ZmNxJZa6u">pic.twitter.com/0ZmNxJZa6u</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1429294733961175056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The UK newspapers have been devoting what seems like 30% of their content to laments about the Taliban victory. I imagine it will be the same in Indian media. It would be naive to think that this won't be reflected on the ground in Afghanistan, there will be plenty of trouble ahead.

The only way for peace to be established would be for superpower support of the regime to counter superpower malevolence. Some form of co-operation with China might be the best bet for Afghanistan.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Bad news for indian media. They were portraying him and that Vice President as heroes.

If a stray dog barks at Taliban's Humvee, I have no doubt in my India, Indian "news" media will make him a hero

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

The UK newspapers have been devoting what seems like 30% of their content to laments about the Taliban victory. I imagine it will be the same in Indian media. It would be naive to think that this won't be reflected on the ground in Afghanistan, there will be plenty of trouble ahead.

The only way for peace to be established would be for superpower support of the regime to counter superpower malevolence. Some form of co-operation with China might be the best bet for Afghanistan.

I think China and Russia have made up their mind. At least Chinese are 100% behind whoever brings stability in the region. Russians are very Russian, you never know their true motivation.

Pak/Iran are already trying their best.

This tweet by Ursula von der Leyen makes me very optimistic regarding the EU's future relation with Afghanistan. There are already muffled voices in big EU news networks who are for talks:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let me be very clear:<br><br>The one billion euros in EU funds set aside for development aid for the next seven years is tied to strict conditions:<br><br>• respect for human rights<br>• good treatment of minorities<br>• respect for the rights of women and girls</p>— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1429046593429385226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I am too ignorant to comment anything UK related.

And India are just a pitiful meme at this point

So overall, Taliban regime, despite their medieval mentality, are better than a new war. I hope the big players who run the world see it so average Afghan can live their lives with dignity like rest of us.

 

[OMB]

An anti-Taliban resistance movement in northern Afghanistan has said it is willing to negotiate with the Taliban but is also prepared for a long-term conflict.

A spokesman for the National Resistance Front told the AFP news agency that Ahmad Massoud - the son of famed anti-Soviet military leader and politician Ahmad Shah Massoud - had gathered around 9,000 fighters in the Panjshir valley to the northeast of Kabul.

In a separate interview, leader Ahmad Massoud told the London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat that his movement hoped for talks but was "prepared to defend until the last man".

"We are ready to form an inclusive government with the Taliban through political negotiations. But what is unacceptable is the formation of an Afghan government characterised by extremism, which would pose a serious threat not only to Afghanistan, but also to the region and the whole world."

 

[Lonewarrior]

Resistance to Taliban is doomed, says Russian envoy to Afghanistan

MOSCOW, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan praised the conduct of the Taliban on Friday in the days since its takeover, saying there was no alternative to the hardline Islamist group and resistance to it would fail.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/resistance-taliban-is-doomed-says-russian-envoy-afghanistan-2021-08-20/

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Some reports are saying that anti taliban resistant had recaptured 3 districts and killed 60 taliban fighters.

I read something similar on twitter, but when i checked that "commando's" tweet from earlier this month I read things like:
100 Taliban killed, 500 Taliban killed, 1,000 Taliban killed.
Situation fully under control
Districts and cities recaptured from Taliban

Then Kabul falls, and it becomes obvious he was lying, or higher than a kite when he was tweeting that nonsense.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

this happened 20 years ago. Its not going to happen again. People underestimate what has actually happened in afghanistan.

1) The IEA made a deal with the americans who sold out Ghani and co

2) nearly 30-40 percent of the new IEA are non pashtun and this includes tajiks and uzbeks from the north

3) The IEA have also made a deal with iran which includes protection of the shia. This was solidifed with the interactions during muharram as you may have noticed

4) Russia and China have both met the IEA ver the last year and even up until a week or so ago. Everyone knew the govt was going to fall except the fool Ghani.

5) The americans made their intentions clear when they decided to join up with Pakistan Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (or was it turkeministan..i cant remember) in a new regional economic grouping to help with connectivity.

6) The IEA have the panjsher valley surrounded. And Ahmed masoods representative is in pakistan with the rest of abdullah abdullahs NA. They are going back to negotiate with the IEA and this includes Karzai.

7) The IEA will be announcing an interim setup soon which will include a council (shura). It is rumoured that the panjsheris will get a seat and so will karzai and abdullah. Or a single representative of this grouping.

8) If the panjsheris resist the IEA will simply cut off the valley and send in the Badr unit 313. backed by air power and artillery. I dont believe this will happen as they made contact with abdullah before entering Kabul.

9) Pakistan ,russia, iran and china are desperate to esnure that another civil war wont kick off while India and other spoilers want the opposite.

10) the ttp and bla etc will continue to cause us problems but nothing like the war on terror where the countrys very existence was in jeopardy. they will remain minor irritants and a nuisance before things calm down. Personally I would rather the army launch an op in balochistan once a new govt is announced in kabul and hunt down these terrorists.

Well said. I Completely agree with this post. People dont seem to realize how big an advantage the Taliban have now. Its over. They won.

Hopefully the people in Afghanistan will have peace now. Unfortunately the Khooni liberals want others to fight and die, while they live in comfort.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I read something similar on twitter, but when i checked that "commando's" tweet from earlier this month I read things like:
100 Taliban killed, 500 Taliban killed, 1,000 Taliban killed.
Situation fully under control
Districts and cities recaptured from Taliban

Then Kabul falls, and it becomes obvious he was lying, or higher than a kite when he was tweeting that nonsense.

Indian media now reporting that fully armed Taliban forces have arrived in the outskirts of Panjsher. And they have given a chance to Masood to surrender in peace.

Have to see how true is this news and truly hope for peaceful negotiations resulting in a United Afghan govt. Nobody wants bloodshed in Afghanistan at this point except for India.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Negotiations have failed and the war continues...

To quote another PPer, Afghanistan is a cursed land... thirsty for blood...

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

this happened 20 years ago. Its not going to happen again. People underestimate what has actually happened in afghanistan.

1) The IEA made a deal with the americans who sold out Ghani and co

2) nearly 30-40 percent of the new IEA are non pashtun and this includes tajiks and uzbeks from the north

3) The IEA have also made a deal with iran which includes protection of the shia. This was solidifed with the interactions during muharram as you may have noticed

4) Russia and China have both met the IEA ver the last year and even up until a week or so ago. Everyone knew the govt was going to fall except the fool Ghani.

5) The americans made their intentions clear when they decided to join up with Pakistan Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (or was it turkeministan..i cant remember) in a new regional economic grouping to help with connectivity.

6) The IEA have the panjsher valley surrounded. And Ahmed masoods representative is in pakistan with the rest of abdullah abdullahs NA. They are going back to negotiate with the IEA and this includes Karzai.

7) The IEA will be announcing an interim setup soon which will include a council (shura). It is rumoured that the panjsheris will get a seat and so will karzai and abdullah. Or a single representative of this grouping.

8) If the panjsheris resist the IEA will simply cut off the valley and send in the Badr unit 313. backed by air power and artillery. I dont believe this will happen as they made contact with abdullah before entering Kabul.

9) Pakistan ,russia, iran and china are desperate to esnure that another civil war wont kick off while India and other spoilers want the opposite.

10) the ttp and bla etc will continue to cause us problems but nothing like the war on terror where the countrys very existence was in jeopardy. they will remain minor irritants and a nuisance before things calm down. Personally I would rather the army launch an op in balochistan once a new govt is announced in kabul and hunt down these terrorists.

what's IEA?

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

what's IEA?

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Video: Taliban have entered Panjshir Valley; they are waiting for the next orders as negotiations between Taliban and Massoud's son resumed...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">طالبان وادی پنجشیر میں داخل ہو گئے ہیں <br>شہر کے باہر کے علاقے میں موجود اعلی قیادت کے اگلے حکم کا انتظار کر رہے ہیں <a href="https://t.co/CJ76b2nBKC">pic.twitter.com/CJ76b2nBKC</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1430566122038890498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">تازہ ترین<br>چاریکار میں طالبان اور پنج شیر کے مزاحمت کاروں کے درمیان مذاکرات کا ایک دور مکمل۔ طالبان کا وفد 7 افراد جبکہ پنج شیر کا وفد 12 افراد پر مشتمل تھا۔<br>ذرائع</p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1430585687682830337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[PakLFC]

They will have to sit down and come to a compromise with the Taliban. The last thing Afghan's need is a long civil war.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Video: Taliban have entered Panjshir Valley; they are waiting for the next orders as negotiations between Taliban and Massoud's son resumed...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">طالبان وادی پنجشیر میں داخل ہو گئے ہیں <br>شہر کے باہر کے علاقے میں موجود اعلی قیادت کے اگلے حکم کا انتظار کر رہے ہیں <a href="https://t.co/CJ76b2nBKC">pic.twitter.com/CJ76b2nBKC</a></p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1430566122038890498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">تازہ ترین<br>چاریکار میں طالبان اور پنج شیر کے مزاحمت کاروں کے درمیان مذاکرات کا ایک دور مکمل۔ طالبان کا وفد 7 افراد جبکہ پنج شیر کا وفد 12 افراد پر مشتمل تھا۔<br>ذرائع</p>— افغان اردو (@AfghanUrdu) <a href="https://twitter.com/AfghanUrdu/status/1430585687682830337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I think this is to put pressure on them because the days of the Norther Alliance are pretty much over. Of course India has paid them a lot of money not to negotiate so a few battles will take place.

 

[Runner Up]

There is too much propaganda going on on social media and mostly Indians are involved defending Afghanistan. But if you see news there is nothing on ground. This is Afghan ex minister who was anti taliban and just returned to Afghanistan.

 

[Lonewarrior]

Indians on social media wants little massod jr to fight against taliban , they never cared about blood-sheed of afghans .....
two uncles of little masood jr were having tea party in Pakistan when taliban took control of kabul ..... lol ......

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Indians on social media wants little massod jr to fight against taliban , they never cared about blood-sheed of afghans .....
two uncles of little masood jr were having tea party in Pakistan when taliban took control of kabul ..... lol ......

Massoud Jr. has a unique opportunity to guide his people and end a war.

He studies and spent an important part of his life in the UK; he can't be so dumb as to not see true intentions of people who want to start the civil war.

 

[Runner Up]

Now this is hilarious

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Massoud Jr. has a unique opportunity to guide his people and end a war.

He studies and spent an important part of his life in the UK; he can't be so dumb as to not see true intentions of people who want to start the civil war.

He must have studied how to use western terminology to demonise opposition then. His last statement included terms like "terrorists" and "Islamists".

Which home grown Afghan would speak like that? His desired audience is clearly foreigners and not his own people.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

This anti-Taliban movement will probably have India as it's biggest funder and supporter.

Amarallah Saleh is a well known Indian trained spy and has very, very strong ties with the fascist Indian govt.

How will this unfold with Talibans, would be be interesting to see?

 

[ahmedzee]

The anti-Taliban movement were losing when Taliban had no capitals. Now they have the whole of Afghanistan, so I doubt it would succeed.

 

[PetroDollars]

Now this is hilarious

Whats obvious is there is no humanitarian crisis in Kabul, people are not fleeing the Taliban, there seeing this as a one shot ticket to get to the US or UK.

Even the sikhs and hindus have rejected indias offer of migration and would rather que at the airport to get to the west.

This is why biden is sticking to his deadline, they know its all drama, there have been numerous meetings with the taliban in qatar over the last year and they garenteed the safety and rights of people in exchange to come to power, The usa just couldn't give them the military equipment due to there image, so gave it to a joke army and told them to not attack taliban otherwise things would get ugly for you.

 

[Giannis]

He must have studied how to use western terminology to demonise opposition then. His last statement included terms like "terrorists" and "Islamists".

Which home grown Afghan would speak like that? His desired audience is clearly foreigners and not his own people.

You're confusing Ahmad Massoud Jr with Amrullah Saleh, the later is the one making those statements while the former only wants to talk, check out Kamal Alam's recent interview - he's an advisor to Massoud and in charge of his foundation, he said everyone in Panjshir hates Saleh because he aligned with Ghani in the past whom everyone hates even more over there and that all these statements on twitter are only being made by Saleh but aren't reflected on the ground in Panjshir.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

The only way panjshir can be supplied is via airdrops.

If Pakistan doesn't allow flights for nato usa after 31st August.

That only leaves the russians using Tajikistan or Uzbekistan to flyover and drop weapons and food supplies.

Panjshir is landlocked and taliban have it surrounded even including badakshan province which they could not annex In the 90s.

But one panjshirs mount an offensive out of their steep valley they will get beaten up unless there is air support for them to push out.

Uzbeks and Russians might help them as most of these rebels belong to their race (2nd biggest after Pathans)

 

[cricketjoshila]

Whats obvious is there is no humanitarian crisis in Kabul, people are not fleeing the Taliban, there seeing this as a one shot ticket to get to the US or UK.

Even the sikhs and hindus have rejected indias offer of migration and would rather que at the airport to get to the west.

This is why biden is sticking to his deadline, they know its all drama, there have been numerous meetings with the taliban in qatar over the last year and they garenteed the safety and rights of people in exchange to come to power, The usa just couldn't give them the military equipment due to there image, so gave it to a joke army and told them to not attack taliban otherwise things would get ugly for you.

A number of Sikhs and Hindus have taken refuge in India. More than 140 were stopped by Taliban from reaching the airport.

Some have applied to go to another country.

People are not fleeing the taliban? I guess you are comfortable living under taliban like rules.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

A number of Sikhs and Hindus have taken refuge in India. More than 140 were stopped by Taliban from reaching the airport.

Some have applied to go to another country.

People are not fleeing the taliban? I guess you are comfortable living under taliban like rules.

Ironic that you question about people living under Talibans rule, while you comfortably live under the religious Hindu fanatics rule.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Ironic that you question about people living under Talibans rule, while you comfortably live under the religious Hindu fanatics rule.

Talibans are detrimental to Muslims as well in their land (women and kids), Indian government is not to majority.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Muslims and Christians in India still go to mosques and churches, pray and gather for religious events.

Afghans and Talibans do not allow practising any religion other that what they believe.

There is a world of difference between right wing ruling of India, Trump (2016-20) to what ISIS and Talibans dictate in their lands.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Muslims and Christians in India still go to mosques and churches, pray and gather for religious events.

Afghans and Talibans do not allow practising any religion other that what they believe.

There is a world of difference between right wing ruling of India, Trump (2016-20) to what ISIS and Talibans dictate in their lands.

Not allowing other religions' practice would be un-Islamic. Let's see how things settle, at least let Taliban rule for a complete month and we will see whether this is true or not. That said, if Afghans/Taliban make a policy/law to suppress minorities and call themselves "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan" then they are big hypocrites.

Trump's USA and Right Wing India are totally different countries for infinite number of reasons.

ISIS is a terrorist organization.

And Taliban might have an embassy open in Nueva Delhi before December 2022

 

[MenInG]

We will not allow tweets from unverified accounts talking about military gains etc

Please use verified sources.

 

[MenInG]

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 Aug 15, mountainous Panjshir has been the only province to hold out against the Taliban, 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 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, senior 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 land-locked 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.

"But we are still 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 at least seven Taliban fighters were killed during an attempt to advance into the valley, according to two resistance leaders.

A spokesman for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, which groups the forces in the Panjshir valley, said on Wednesday Taliban forces had launched an offensive two days ago, and had been attacking in three or four different areas but had so far been pushed back.

The spokesman said he had no fresh details on any casualties

DAWN

 

[MenInG]

Panjshir Valley, which has become a symbol of defiance against the Taliban since the fall of Kabul, is bracing for the full fury of the militia after a senior Taliban leader slammed the door on negotiations with “rebels” on Wednesday.

On the political front, the Taliban Shura is said to have completed consultation on a new inclusive government which, according to sources, is likely to be unveiled on the “auspicious day of Friday”.

Northeastern Panjshir is the only province among Afghanistan’s 34 provinces which has yet to fall to the Taliban. Ahmed Massoud, the son of anti-Soviet resistance commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, and Amrullah Saleh, the former first vice president of Afghanistan, have refused to submit to the Taliban.

The pair seeks to revive the defunct Northern Alliance, a coalition of ethnic Uzbek and Tajik forces, in Panjshir to challenge the Taliban.

The Taliban took over most major cities, including the capital Kabul, with lightning speed and mostly without a fight as they encouraged the Afghan government forces to surrender. The militia also engaged Massoud and Saleh in negotiations to “avoid bloodshed”.

However, negotiations appear to have failed. Mullah Amir Khan Motaqi, the head of Taliban’s commission for guidance and encouragement, has said that negotiations with tribal elders and leaders of Panjshir “went in vain."

Read Veteran Afghan strongmen to form new front for negotiating with Taliban

"My brothers, we tried our best to solve the Panjshir problem with talks and negotiations... but unfortunately all in vain," Muttaqi said in an audio message posted on Twitter.

He blamed the leaders of Panjshir for the breakdown of negotiations, saying there were still some people in the valley who didn’t want the problems to be solved peacefully. “Now it is up to you to talk to them," Muttaqi said in the message to the people of Panjshir. "Those who want to fight, tell them it is enough."

“If they (Northern Alliance) could do nothing [against Taliban] with the support of the US and its NATO allies during the past 20 years, they can do nothing now,” he said, promising to adhere to the general amnesty for all.

Muttaqi was referring to talks held in Parwan province between the Taliban and politicians from Panjshir to break the impasse.

Former deputy speaker of the Senate Mohammad Alam Izdiar, who hails from Panjshir, said in a statement last Thursday that a 12-member delegation of the “Panjshir Resistance Front,” headed by Mohammad Almas Zahed, “a jihadi commander,” met with a Taliban delegation in Charikar, Parwan.

Panjshir Valley has been under siege from all four sides, while the Taliban have sent fresh reinforcements to the northern pocket of defiance where the elder Massoud had led a fabled fight against the Soviets in the 1980s, earning the title of “lion of Panjshir”.

The Taliban marched from Badakhshan, Baghlan, Parvan, Nuristan and Kunar provinces using uncharted and unfrequented routes to lay siege to Panjshir.

Maulvi Fasihuddin, a Tajik Taliban commander, has been leading the Panjshir campaign, according to sources. The elite Taliban special forces, the “Badri 313 unit”, are said to be on the forefront.

Various pro-Taliban social media accounts have claimed that the southern Shotul district of the province, located 125 kilometres from the capital Kabul, has been captured. They further claimed fierce fighting has been ongoing and the Taliban fighters are advancing.

A spokesman for the anti-Taliban “Resistance 2.0” group in Panjshir, Fahim Dashti, however, claimed on Tuesday that a major Taliban attack had been repulsed. In an audio statement, Dashti said “heavy casualties” had been inflicted on the Taliban.

Dmitry Zhirnov, the Russian ambassador in Kabul, has reportedly warned that the Taliban could capture Panjshir in “a few hours”, but they were showing restraint because they “want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed”.

Govt formation

Taliban leaders, including Anas Haqqani, have held several rounds of talks with Afghan leaders, among them former president Hamid Karzai and former vice president Abdullah Abdullah, in an effort to cobble up an inclusive government.

Several Taliban sources have confirmed to The Express Tribune that the makeup of the new government have almost been finalised. According to Anamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban’s cultural commission, supreme leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, will be the leader of the new government.

“There is no doubt about the presence of the commander of the faithful (Akhunzada) in the government. He will be the leader of the government and there should be no question on this,” he was quoted by ToloNews as saying.

Some sources told The Express Tribune that the new government might be unveiled “Friday afternoon” and that there could also be a prime minister post in the new set-up.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s chief negotiator and deputy chief of the group’s political office in Qatar, told BBC Pashto on Wednesday that the new government would be unveiled “within three days”.

He said that the new government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan would have representation from all ethnic groups and would enjoy national and international support. “Pious and educated people would make up the new government which would have fair share of women,” he said. However, he added that those who had been associated with the government in any way during the last 20 years would not be given any role in the new set-up.

The Taliban has already appointed governors, police chiefs and police commanders for provinces and districts.

 

[MenInG]

Heavy fighting is reported between Taliban forces and resistance militants in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley.

The Taliban said they had taken some territory and inflicted "heavy" losses on the National Resistance Front.

But the Front said it had control of all entrances to the valley, and the Taliban had lost hundreds of fighters.

Panjshir is the only province that has not fallen to the Islamist group and thousands of opposition fighters are believed to have massed there.

The resistance - which includes former Vice-President Amrullah Saleh, former Afghan security force members and local militias - is led by local tribal leader Ahmad Massoud. Massoud's father held off the Soviets in the 1980s and the Taliban in the 1990s.

BBC

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-sources-say-their-forces-take-panjshir-full-control-afghanistan-2021-09-03/

Taliban forces have taken full control of Afghanistan including the Panjshir valley where opposition forces had been holding out, three Taliban sources said on Friday as heavy celebratory gunfire was heard in the Afghan capital Kabul.

"By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of the entire Afghanistan. The troublemakers have defeated and Panjshir is now under our command," said one Taliban commander.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the opposition forces told Tolo News television station that reports he had fled the country were lies.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-sources-say-their-forces-take-panjshir-full-control-afghanistan-2021-09-03/

Looks like he may still be in Panjsher.

I truly hope Talibans don't kill him. Instead, they should arrest, and hand him over to Pakistan's ISI.
We will keep him in the same cell with Kulbhushan Yadav.

I'm Calling From Inside Panjshir, Haven't Fled Anywhere: Afghanistan's Ex-VP Amrullah Saleh Axes Rumors

https://www.news18.com/news/world/i...x-vp-amrullah-saleh-axes-rumours-4162850.html

 

[MenInG]

Taliban forces have taken full control of Afghanistan including the Panjshir Valley where opposition forces had been holding out, three Taliban sources said on Friday as heavy celebratory gunfire was heard in the Afghan capital Kabul.

"By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of the entire Afghanistan. The troublemakers have defeated and Panjshir is now under our command," said one Taliban commander.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports. Former Vice President Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the opposition forces told Tolo News television station that reports he had fled the country were lies.

And in a video clip posted on Twitter by a BBC World journalist who said it had been sent by Saleh, he said: "There is no doubt we are in a difficult situation. We are under invasion by the Taliban ... We have held the ground, we have resisted."

He also tweeted: "The RESISTANCE is continuing and will continue. I am here with my soil, for my soil & defending its dignity."

His son, Ebadullah Saleh, denied that Panjshir had fallen, texting the message "No, it's false".

There had been reports of heavy fighting and casualties in Panjshir, a rugged valley where several thousand fighters from regional militias and remnants of the old government's armed forces had massed under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud the son of late Mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.

The Taliban seized Kabul on Aug 15 after rapid advances across Afghanistan.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/231847...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI

 

[MenInG]

KABUL: Taliban forces have taken full control of Afghanistan, including the Panjshir valley where opposition forces had been holding out, three Taliban sources said on Friday as heavy celebratory gunfire was heard in the Afghan capital Kabul.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, we are in control of the entire Afghanistan. The troublemakers have been defeated and Panjshir is now under our command,” said one Taliban commander.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports.

Former vice president Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the opposition forces told Tolo News television station that reports he had fled the country were lies.

Meanwhile, the Taliban are due to form a government within days despite fighting in Panjshir Valley.

The Taliban face the enormous challenge of shifting gears from insurgent group to governing power, days after the United States fully withdrew its troops and ended two decades of war.

While the West has adopted a wait-and-see approach to the group, there were some signs of engagement with the new leaders gathering pace.

China confirmed a tweet from a Taliban spokesman hours earlier, indicating that Beijing will keep its embassy in Kabul open.

“We hope the Taliban will establish an open and inclusive political structure, pursue moderate and stable domestic and foreign policy and make a clean break with all terrorist groups,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

The United Nations said it had restarted humanitarian flights to parts of the country, linking the Pakistani capital with Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan and Kandahar in the south.

The country’s flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines resumed domestic flights on Friday, while the United Arab Emirates sent a plane carrying “urgent medical and food aid”.

Western Union and Moneygram, meanwhile, said they were restarting money transfers, which many Afghans rely on from relatives abroad to survive, and Qatar said it was working to reopen the airport in Kabul — a lifeline for aid.

In Kranj, EU countries on Friday laid out conditions for stepping up engagement with the Taliban, agreeing to establish a joint Kabul civilian presence to help departures if security allows.

“We have to engage with the new government in Afghanistan, which doesn’t mean recognition, it’s an operational engagement,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers in Slovenia.

“This operational engagement will increase depending on the behaviour of this government,” he said.

Borrell laid out a raft of “benchmarks” that the new authorities would have to meet as the Taliban gears up to announce a new government after seizing power.

Meanwhile, Doha’s special envoy to Afghanistan told the Al Jazeera broadcaster on Friday that Qatar hopes to see the establishment of humanitarian aid corridors at Afghan airports within 48 hours.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2021

 

[ahmedzee]

So that indian puppet and coward amrullah saleh escaped just like his president, Ashraf Ghani. Sad to see such cowards and loses were Afghan leaders. Time to realize that aligning yourself with india to support their proxies in your country would only give you embarrassment. Time for afghans to realize this too.

Now, I wonder if india will take saleh and his cronies.

 

[Major]

If Pnajshir has been captured than i really feel sorry for Afghanistan. The country is going to be doomed now that the whole country comes under the control of the Taliban.

Panjshir valley was probably the only hope for the Afghanis.

 

[MenInG]

Taliban fighters claim to have made gains in the Panjshir valley - one of Afghanistan's smallest provinces and the only one not to have fallen to the Islamist militia.

The fate of the region hangs in the balance, with Taliban sources claiming it has taken the Afghan holdout, something the local resistance denies.

The valley is being defended by former vice president Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, the British-educated son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed in a suicide bombing just two days before 9/11.

Fighting in the traditionally anti-Taliban region is reported to have left hundreds dead.

Ali Nazari, a spokesperson for the National Resistance Front (NRF) fighters, told the BBC that the rebels had pushed back the Taliban.

"There are well over a few hundred Taliban who are trapped. And they are running out of munitions and they are negotiating terms of surrender right now," he said.

However, Taliban officials have claimed victory in the area.

In Kabul, two people were killed and 12 wounded after Taliban fighters fired their weapons into the air in a supposed celebration of battlefield gains.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid criticized the practice of firing into the air and called on the militants to stop it immediately.

SKY

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud led their troops valiantly against "savage" Taliban... on Twitter... from Tajikistan...

(Apparently these two clowns were non stop tweets meanwhile there was no internet access in the valley )

 

[MenInG]

Fresh fighting has been reported in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, the final pocket of territory which remains out of the hands of the Taliban.

One of the resistance leaders in the valley, Amrullah Saleh, dismissed reports that the Taliban had captured it as "baseless".

But he admitted conditions are difficult, with the Taliban closing phone, internet and electricity lines.

The fighting comes with the Taliban set to finalise a government.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-opposition-vie-control-panjshir-pakistan-spy-chief-flies-kabul-2021-09-04/

Taliban and opposition forces battled on Saturday to control the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, the last Afghan province holding out against the Islamist group, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand without producing conclusive evidence.

The Taliban, which took power in the rest of the country three weeks ago, were never able to control the valley when they last ruled Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001.

Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi said the districts of Khinj and Unabah had been taken, giving Taliban forces control of four of the province's seven districts. "The Mujahideen (Taliban fighters) are advancing toward the centre (of the province)," he said on Twitter.

But the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, grouping forces loyal to local leader Ahmad Massoud, said it surrounded "thousands of terrorists" in Khawak pass and the Taliban had abandoned vehicles and equipment in the Dashte Rewak area.

Front spokesman Fahim Dashti added "heavy clashes" were going on.

In a Facebook post, Massoud insisted Panjshir "continues to stand strongly". Praising "our honourable sisters", he said demonstrations by women in the western city of Herat calling for their rights showed Afghans had not given up demands for justice and "they fear no threats".

Earlier a Taliban source said the Taliban's advance was slowed by landmines placed on the road to the provincial capital, Bazarak.

It was not immediately possible to get independent confirmation of events in Panjshir, which is walled off by mountains except for a narrow entrance.

Celebratory gunfire resounded in Kabul on Friday as reports spread of the Taliban's takeover of Panjshir, and news agencies said at least 17 people were killed and 41 hurt in the firing.

Pakistan's spy chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed flew into Kabul on Saturday. It was not clear what his agenda was, but a senior official in Pakistan said earlier in the week that Hameed, who heads the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, could help the Taliban reorganise the Afghan military.

Washington has accused Pakistan and the ISI of backing the Taliban in the group's two-decade fight against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, although Islamabad has denied the charges.

In Kabul, Taliban fighters broke up a demonstration by about a dozen women urging the group to respect women's rights to education and jobs, according private broadcaster Tolo news. Footage showed women confronted by armed militants covering their mouths and coughing, and one demonstrator said the fighters had used tear gas and tasers against the participants, who had been carrying banners and a bouquet of flowers.

"They also hit women on the head with a gun magazine, and the women became bloody," said a demonstrator who gave her name as Soraya.

The Taliban imposed violent punishments and barred women and older girls from school and work when they were previously in power, but have sought to present a more moderate face this time.

The Taliban source also said the announcement of a new government would be pushed back to the next week.

Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, reported by some Taliban sources to be in line to lead the new government, said in remarks on Qatar's Al Jazeera channel that the new administration "will include all factions of the Afghan people".

"We are doing our utmost efforts to improve their living conditions. The government will provide security, because it is necessary for economic development," he said.

Meanwhile, some signs of normality returned to Kabul.

Qatar's ambassador to Afghanistan said a technical team was able to reopen Kabul airport to receive aid, according to Al Jazeera, which also cited its correspondent as saying domestic flights had restarted.

The airport has been closed since the United States on Aug. 30 completed the evacuations of more than 120,000 U.S. citizens, other foreigners and Afghans deemed at risk from the Taliban, and withdrew the last of its troops.

The Taliban's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, also said one of the main foreign exchange dealers in Kabul had reopened.

Afghanistan's economy has been thrown into disarray by the Taliban's takeover. Many banks are closed and cash is scarce.

The United Nations said it will convene an international aid conference on Sept. 13 to help avert what U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called a "looming humanitarian catastrophe".

Western powers say they are prepared to engage with the Taliban and send humanitarian aid, but that formal recognition of the government and broader economic assistance will depend on action - not just promises - to safeguard human rights.

 

[ahmedzee]

If Pnajshir has been captured than i really feel sorry for Afghanistan. The country is going to be doomed now that the whole country comes under the control of the Taliban.

Panjshir valley was probably the only hope for the Afghanis.

Was it not doomed when there were occupying forces bombing civilians (women and children including). If you think it isn’t, then you are justifying bombing of 100,000s of afghans in the last 20 years.

 

[ahmedzee]

Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud led their troops valiantly against "savage" Taliban... on Twitter... from Tajikistan...

(Apparently these two clowns were non stop tweets meanwhile there was no internet access in the valley )

Reports indicate they were in Tajikistan. Just take bravado from these two indian puppets.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

For the sake of peace in Afghanistan, it will be for the best if Panjshir falls. The Afghan people have been fighting for the last 40 years and they deserve peace, and not another civil war.

People should also remember that this resistance is being led by the son of a warlord. In fact he is a warlord himself, since he controls the valley. Their are no good guys here.

 

[Major]

Fresh fighting has been reported in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley, the final pocket of territory which remains out of the hands of the Taliban.

One of the resistance leaders in the valley, Amrullah Saleh, dismissed reports that the Taliban had captured it as "baseless".

But he admitted conditions are difficult, with the Taliban closing phone, internet and electricity lines.

The fighting comes with the Taliban set to finalise a government.

THis is good. Thank god Panjshir has not fallen yet and many pakistani media outlets were reporting irresponsibly.