Taliban surround Panjshir Valley

As the Taliban began to mobilize militants around the Panshir Valley, Ahmad Massoud, the son of the famous Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, said he was looking forward to the talks but was ready for war.

Taliban spokesman JZabihullah Mujahid said his forces had recaptured Deh Salah and Pul-e-Hesar districts from Resistance 2 in Baghlan province, near Panjshir. Social media showed that the helicopters were brought to Panjshir from nearby Tajikistan. Tajikistan provide food and weapons to Panjishir.Stanislav Zas, secretary of the Joint Defense Agreement, said he had no information when asked if there was an air route between Panjshir and Tajikistan to supply arms to the only province outside Afghanistan that is outside the Taliban.

Amrullah Saleh, Afghanistan's first vice president in the Valley with Massoud, said his forces had blocked the main Salang highway, but the Taliban said it was under their control. Saleh admitted that the Taliban had concentrated their forces near the entrance to the Panjshir.

Asked about the unity of politicians in the Panjshir Valley, Massoudsaid: "People are very united. They want to fight and oppose any dictatorial regime. However, many Afghans on social media say they are tired of the war and that the fighting parties need to negotiate."

The Massoud-Saleh duo was joined by Yar Mohammad Dostum, the son of Uzbek warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, who fled to Turkey after the initial fighting against the Taliban in Mazar-e-Sharif.. Most importantly, Dostums is understood to have flown some Mi-35 helicopters and A-29 aircraft to neighboring Uzbekistan for safety.

Video In Tamil