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Afghanistan: Religious scholars call for end of fighting in Panjshir

Taliban claimed to have captured all districts, resistance say otherwise

panjshirf Men prepare for defense against the Taliban in Panjshir, Afghanistan August 22, 2021 | Reuters

As fighting between the Taliban and members of the Afghan resistance in the Panjshir Valley raged on, religious scholars in the country have called for an end to the conflict. A gathering of scholars in Kabul on Sunday asked both the Taliban and the Resistance Front to halt the fighting, calling it an “illegitimate war”.

The statement came as the Taliban claimed to have captured all districts in Panjshir except for the centre, Bazarak.

“The Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are actively present in all areas and districts of Panjshir. All the areas are under the control of the Mujahideen. They only faced resistance in Bazarak in the center of Panjshir,” Ahmadullah Wasiq, deputy head of the Taliban’s Cultural Commission, was quoted as saying by TOLO News.

However, Resistance front spokesman Fahim Dashti denied this claim. Ahmad Massoud tweeted saying “hundreds” of Taliban fighters in Panjshir surrendered on Sunday.

Late on Sunday, Dashti tweeted saying the Resistance Front was committed to resolving disputes peacefully on the basis of religious and moral principles. Some news reports claimed the Resistance Fighters have offered a peace settlement. 

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