Taliban Claims Its Forces Have Entered Panjshir's Capital

The Taliban said on Sunday their forces had fought their way into the provincial capital of Panjshir, the valley where opposition forces have been holding out since the fall of Kabul three weeks ago, James McKenzie reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: NRFA forces in the Panjshir Valley.

The police headquarters and district center of Rukhah, adjacent to the provincial capital Bazarak fell and opposition forces suffered numerous casualties, with large numbers of prisoners and captured vehicles, weapons, and ammunition, Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi claimed on Twitter.

Fighting was underway in Bazarak, he said. It was not possible to confirm the report, which was echoed on other Taliban Twitter accounts.

Earlier on Sunday Fahim Dashti, spokesman for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), which groups opposition forces, said the Taliban "propaganda machine" was trying to spread distracting messages.

"The resistance forces are ready to continue their defense against any form of aggression," he said.

Ahmad Massoud, leader of the NRFA, has pledged to continue resisting the offensive and has called for international support. On Sunday, Massoud said hundreds of Taliban fighters had surrendered to NRFA forces, which included remnants of regular Afghan army and special forces units as well as local militia fighters.

It was not possible to confirm that independently.

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