Taliban-Resistance Negotiations Fail... "Panjsher Military Operation Begins" Clash Expected

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Negotiations between the Taliban, who have regained control of the Afghan government, and the anti-Taliban resistance forces have broken down, and fighting is expected to begin.

Local broadcaster Al Jazeera cited Taliban sources on the 2nd, reporting that "the Taliban decided to launch a military operation in the Panjshir region after negotiations with the resistance forces failed."

Earlier, Taliban senior official Amir Khan Muttaqi advised the resistance forces gathered in Panjshir to surrender, saying, "Afghanistan is the homeland of all Afghans." However, Ahmad Massoud, leader of the Afghan National Resistance Front (NRF), the focal point of the resistance forces, rejected this, stating, "We will fight for equitable power distribution among different ethnic groups and sects," and "Unfortunately, the Taliban have not changed."

The NRF also announced in an official statement the previous day, "The Taliban offered one or two positions in the newly formed government, but we refused," adding, "Negotiations with the Taliban have broken down, and we will continue to fight the Taliban in Panjshir and other parts of Afghanistan."

Panjshir Province in northern Afghanistan is a city formed long and wide along the Hindu Kush mountain range, historically known as a 'natural fortress.' Panjshir means 'Five Lions' in Persian. It was never occupied by foreign powers such as the Soviet Union or during the Taliban's rule 20 years ago.

After the Taliban regained power on the 15th of last month, resistance forces have been gathering, making Panjshir a stronghold for the resistance army.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported the previous day that the Taliban had captured the Shotul area of the Panjshir Valley, a stronghold of the resistance forces. It is known that casualties occurred on both sides during the Taliban's capture of Shotul.

WSJ also reported that sporadic clashes continued not only in the Panjshir Valley but also in Wardak and Daikundi, areas inhabited by the Shiite Hazara minority.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.