17 killed, 41 injured by celebratory gunfire in Afghan capital

By Shafiq Ahmad

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - At least 17 people were killed and 41 others injured by celebratory gunfire in different parts of Afghanistan's capital after untrue reports emerged that the Taliban captured the northeastern Panjshir valley, a hospital source told Anadolu Agency on Saturday.

For two hours on Friday evening, the Taliban shot thousands of rounds of tracer bullets across the night sky in Kabul, fueling speculation that they had taken the valley, which was the last region not yet seized by the insurgents in their recent lighting advances across the country.

These reports turned out to be false, however, as no Taliban commander went on record confirming them.

According to a source from a local hospital, at least 17 people were killed in the indiscriminate fire, with 41 others injured and taken to receive medical care. The Taliban denied media access to the hospital that received them.

However, a senior Taliban leader, Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqoob Omari, issued an audio message warning Taliban members of severe consequences for such behavior.

"I warn all commanders and Mujahideen (Taliban members) in Kabul city and province that if anyone resorts to aerial firing in the city, I will take strict action against them," he said, adding that violators would be expelled from the city.

The Panjshir resistance group, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of late mujahideen commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and Bismillah Mohammadi, the Ghani government's defense minister, are fighting the Taliban in the valley.

If the Taliban seize Panjshir, it will be the first time they will form a government across Afghanistan. They were unable to govern northern Afghan provinces including Faryab, Sar-e Pul, Jawzjan, Balkh, Samangan, and Kunduz during their first government from 1996 to 2001.

The Taliban have taken over most of the 33 provincial capitals without bloodshed, but deadly confrontations have continued in Panjshir since the US left Afghanistan on Aug. 31, the only province still fighting them.