Fierce airstrikes on Taliban locations in Panjshir; Pakistani soldiers allege

Kabul: The Taliban had declared the independence of Afghanistan by taking control of Panjshir. Ahmed Masood, the leader of the Northern Alliance, had accused the Pakistan Air Force of assisting the Taliban in the Panjshir conflict. Pakistan has denied the allegations. But now, there are reports of airstrikes in Taliban-held areas of Panjshir. The airstrikes are said to have killed Taliban militants as well as Pakistani soldiers.

Panjshir in Afghanistan is considered to be the biggest obstacle to the establishment of a Taliban government. Even after the Taliban took control of Kabul, the Northern Alliance kept Panjshir independent. Ahmed Masood, the leader of the Northern Alliance, also called on anti-Taliban groups and the people to join the fight for the future of Afghanistan. The Taliban then launched a vigorous campaign to seize Panjshir. But breaking the Northern Alliance’s front in the Panjshir Valley was a significant challenge for the Taliban.

In such a situation, Ahmed Masood accused the Pakistan Air Force of assisting the Taliban in the conflict in Panjshir. Pakistan Air Force drones carried out airstrikes in Panjshir. It was also claimed that Pakistan Army Special Forces personnel had entered Panjshir. Iran had also criticized Pakistan’s involvement in the Panjshir conflict. Iran had said that Pakistan should not interfere in Afghanistan’s affairs.

Pakistan has denied the allegations. But on Tuesday, some media agencies reported that a Pakistani soldier had been killed in an airstrike on a Taliban base in Panjshir. The attacks targeted five Taliban bases. No information has been released as to which country’s planes carried out the attacks. Nor did the Northern Alliance confirm the report. But the news makes it clear that the conflict in Panjshir is continuing.