Taliban says it has surrounded Afghan resistance fighters, calls for
peace
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[September 01, 2021]
By James Mackenzie and Alasdair Pal
(Reuters) -The Taliban has 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 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 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 U.S.
forces.
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Ahmad Massoud, son of the slain hero of the anti-Soviet resistance
Ahmad Shah Massoud, waves as he arrives to attend a new political
movement in Bazarak, Panjshir province Afghanistan September 5,
2019. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
"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.
(Reporting by James Mackenzie and Alasdair PalEditing by Gareth
Jones)
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