Afghanistan: Taliban say have sent hundreds of fighters to the rebellious Panjshir Valley
The Taliban says it has sent “hundreds of fighters” to the Panjshir Valley, northeast of Kabul. The valley is not in the hands of radical Islamists and provides a bulwark for groups who want to fight the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman said the troops would be sent “because local leaders refused to hand over the area peacefully”.
A spokesman for the resistance groups said thousands of people had moved into the valley since the Taliban took power. Among them are the remnants of the Afghan army. The area is surrounded by steep mountain ranges and thus is a suitable place to repel attackers. Under the Taliban in the 1990s, the group failed to capture the valley.
Ahmed Masoud, son of the famous fighter against the Taliban during the 1990s, is trying to form a resistance force from the valley. He asked the United States via the Washington Post for weapons for his rebellion.