Ambassador Dmitri Zhirnov said on Russian state television that the Taliban had asked him to deliver a message to the leaders and the people of the Punjir Valley. The Taliban hoped “to find a peaceful solution to the situation, for example through a political agreement. The Taliban do not want bloodshed and are ready for dialogue. “
Amrullah Saleh, who was Vice President of Afghanistan before the Taliban came to power and now sees himself as the rightful president after President Ashraf Ghani’s flight, tweeted on Sunday evening German time that the Taliban had gathered forces close to access to Pandjir.
The province of Punjir could not be conquered by the Taliban during their first rule between 1996 and 2001. In addition to the bitter resistance of the Northern Alliance, this was also due to the geographical location – the entrance to the valley is narrow and easy to defend. While the Islamists have brought all other provinces under their control in the past few months, there have been only isolated attacks on Punjir.
Akhmad Shah Massoud, the legendary deceased leader of the Northern Alliance that fought against the Islamists in the 1990s, came from Punjir. He was murdered two days before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. His son Achmad Massud wrote in a guest article in the Washington Post last Wednesday: “The mujahideen resistance against the Taliban is now beginning. But we need help. ” He asked the US and its democratic allies for weapons, ammunition and supplies. “You are our only remaining hope.”