'It's a lie', claims resistance force commander Ahmad Massoud on Panjshir takeover by Taliban

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, September 4

Even as Taliban claimed the Islamist militia had on Friday seized the Panjshir valley north of Kabul, military commander of the resistance group, Ahmad Massoud has denied it had fallen.

“News of Panjshir conquests is circulating on Pakistani media. This is a lie. Conquering Panjshir will be my last day in Panjshir, inshallah,'' tweeted Massoud.

Also read: Panjshir captured, say Taliban sources

Massoud and his resistance forces are engaged in a fierce battle with Taliban for control over the Panjshir valley.

Former Vice-President Amrullah Saleh, one of the leaders of the Opposition forces, said his side had not given up.

“There is no doubt we are in a difficult situation. We are under invasion by the Taliban," he said on a video clip posted to Twitter by a BBC World journalist.

"We have held the ground, we have resisted."

Earlier, media reports quoting Taliban leaders had claimed that Panjshir valley had fallen to the Islamist militia.

"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.

Deafening volleys of celebratory gunfire resounded all over Kabul and Facebook accounts were full of mentions of the fall of Panjshir.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports, which if true would give the Taliban complete control of Afghanistan, something they did not achieve when they first ruled the country between 1996 and 2001. With inputs from Reuters