Witnesses claim thousands of Taliban fighters overran eight districts in Panjshir Valley overnight, reports AP, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid this morning announcing the militant group’s victory.
What remains of the resistance in the region is understood to be being led by former Vice President Amrullah Saleh and the son of iconic anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was killed just days before the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials are struggling to find a clear exit for hundreds of Afghans wanting to escape Taliban rule in the country, with conflicting reports about why several planes in northern Balkh province have been unable to leave the country for days.
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He reaffirmed the UK’s promise to launch a resettlement programme for up to 20,000 Afghans over several years - with up to 5,000 by the end of 2021.
But opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer hit out at Johnson for “underestimated the strength of the Taliban despite intelligence warnings that rapid Taliban advances could lead to the collapse of the Afghan security forces”.
Johnson replied by accusing Starmer of not bothering “to show up” in the immediate fallout of the withdrawal. “I don’t know where he was,” he said.
He added that deadly bio-weapon attacks were no longer in the “realm of science fiction”.
The remaining resistance forces in the country - including National Resistance Front leader Ahmad Massoud - are now calling for an “uprising” in the country.
To date, more than 120,000 people have been evacuated by allied countries from Kabul’s airport, with over 500 Afghans who have worked with NATO being housed in bases around Europe.
In a press conference just now, spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also said it would be investigating allegations that Pakistan assisted attacks against the group.
Dashti was the voice of the group and a prominent media personality during previous governments.
He was also the nephew of Abdullah Abdullah, a senior former government official who is reported by Al Jazeera to be in negotiations with the Taliban on the future of the country.
Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference just now that they “will be asked to rejoin the security departments alongside Taliban members” in the coming weeks.
Talks have been ongoing between different parties - including former president Hamid Karzai - since the Taliban took control of Kabul last month.
In a press conference just now, group spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid suggests the government will be “inclusive” and provide opportunities for former opponents and women - but which women would take senior positions remains unclear.
Several aircraft with hundreds of Afghans desperate to flee the country are still grounded, with the U.S. under increasing pressure to get as many out as possible.
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