“The Mujaheddin from Badakhshan, Takhar, and Andarab are stationed near Panjshir. The Salang Highway is open and the enemy is besieged inside Panjshir. The Islamic Emirate is trying to resolve the issue peacefully,” Mujahid said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.

Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan that controls the last significant anti-Taliban holdout, said that he hoped to hold peaceful talks with the Taliban after the group captured Kabul a week ago.

A mountainous region, Panjshir was a formidable base of operations for the original Northern Alliance, and for anti-Soviet fighters.

It was the birthplace of Ahmad Shah Massoud, and his son, Ahmad Massoud, is widely seen as his successor.

In July 2021, the remnants of the Northern Alliance started remobilizing under an umbrella called Resistance II.

Ahmad Massoud wrote in an op-ed to the Washington Post on 18 August 2021, calling for the rest of the world to help them, as he admits that ammunition and supplies will run out unless Panjshir can be supplied.

As of 17 August, the Panjshir Valley was—according to one observer—"under siege on all sides" but had not come under direct attack. (ILKHA)