Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley: So many Taliban fighters are en route to Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, the only territory that remains uncaptured by the Taliban.
Panjshir – The Valley of Resistance is roughly located 150 km northeast of the Afghan capital Kabul. It now houses some of the most senior members of the fallen government, most notably Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi and Vice President Amrullah Saleh.
Panjshir – The Valley of Resistance
Considering the Panjshir’s long history of resisting occupation and invasion, another guerilla movement may birth under Ahmad Massoud’s leadership, who is the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud.
This area houses around 100,000 Tajik population. In the 1980s, Ahmad Shah Massoud led the United Front’s (Northern Alliance) charge against the Soviet invasion, ultimately forcing their withdrawal in 1989. Massoud leads a resistance against the Taliban in the 1990s. Even though he was a conservative, he was predisposed to establish democratic institutions and granting equal rights to women. In the year 2001, he was assassinated by alleged al-Queda militants.
The Panjshir valley’s geography was the key to Massoud’s military success. The valley has only one entrance via a narrow corridor carved out by the Panjshir River. The terrain lands of the valley are perfect for mountain warfare. Because of this reason, so many former Afghan soldiers are regrouped here. The Panjshir’s valley also poses several logistical challenges concerning access to military equipment and other supplies.
