Anti-Taliban fighters claim headway in northern Afghanistan

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – As talks to form a new government continue in Afghanistan, the anti-Taliban resistance movement in the country claimed to have made inroads in the northern Baghlan province.

Members of the “Resistance-2” in Panjshir province, the only province still not under Taliban control, said they managed to retake the districts of Salah and Banu in neighboring Baghlan after killing “dozens” of Taliban fighters.

The reports, however, were not confirmed by independent sources.

Ahmed Massoud, the leader of the anti-Taliban resistance, told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that the group was ready for an “inclusive government with the Taliban” through political negotiations.

The Taliban have also shown willingness to accommodate Massoud, his uncle Ahmad Wali, and other figures from Panjshir.

Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesperson, said on Saturday that talks and consultations were underway in this connection.

The former government’s top peace broker, Abdullah Abdullah, and ex-President Hamid Karzai have also been holding talks with leaders on the matter.

Meanwhile, banks, forex markets, and most public and private businesses remained close across Afghanistan.

Having declared amnesty for all, the Taliban have urged citizens to return to work.

All government servants were told to report to their offices from Sunday and assured that their salaries “will be paid as in the past.”​​​​​​​