Panjshir Valley’s resistance against the Taliban

The Taliban and opposition forces battled badly to control the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan on September 4, 2021.

Highlights

• Panjshir Valley is located to the north of Kabul.
• Both the sides claimed to have the control in Panjshir but neither could produce conclusive evidence to prove it.

Background

The Taliban were unable to control this valley earlier, when they ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

When did the fight start?

The war over Panjshir province escalated on the night of September 3, 2021. During the fight, two senior leaders of National Resistance Front were killed. According to reports, the acting president of Afghanistan, Amrullah Saleh, has moved to a safe place following a helicopter attack on his house.

About Panjshir Valley

Panjshir is one among the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is located in the north-eastern part of Afghanistan comprising of the Panjshir Valley.  It is divided into seven districts with 512 villages. Provincial capital of Panjshir is Bazarak. The region is currently controlled by the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan. Panjshir and Baghlan provinces are reportedly not controlled by the Taliban following the 2021 Taliban offensive.

An independent province

Panjshir became an independent province out of Parwan Province in 2004. It shares its border with Baghlan & Takhar to the north, Badakhshan & Nuristan to the east, Laghman & Kapisa to the south and Parwan to the west.

Bazarak

It is the provincial capital of Panjshir Province comprising of six villages, viz., Jangalak, Khanez, Malaspa, Parandeh and Rahmankhel. The tomb of Ahmad Shah Massoud (Lion of Panjshir) is located in Bazarak.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021