Roads, telecom services in Panjshir province resume; most residents have fled to the mountains
Kabul : The roads leading to Panjshir province in northeastern Afghanistan have been reopened and telecom services restored, more than a fortnight after they were cut off by the Taliban in the fighting against the Resistance forces led by Ahmad Massoud. Most of the residents of the province have fled to the mountains to escape the wrath of the Taliban militia.
Local residents said that electricity has yet to be reconnected in the province, more than 20 days after it was cut off by the Taliban regime in Kabul.
Mohammad Wasi Almas, a local journalist, said: “The telecom networks have been working since yesterday. The serious challenge is the electricity cut off, which has not been solved,” Tolo News quoted him as saying.
Some Panjshir residents said “90 percent” of locals have left their homes and fled to the mountains following the clashes between the Taliban and the Resistance Front forces in the past weeks, and they face serious issues.
“An economic crisis has emerged, and people are struggling with economic problems,” a resident said.
“From 100 percent, only 10 percent of people stayed back, and the rest have left their homes,” a Panjshir resident said.
Local security officials in Panjshir, however, say the situation is normal in the province. “Protecting women, children and people is our obligation. All the issues such as lack of electricity and food are lies,” said Mawlawi Sana Sangin Fatih, a local security official.
In the meantime, the New York Times has reported that Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front, has hired a lobbyist in the United States to shore up support for the resistance front.
A source close to Ahmad Massoud said the aim is to discourage the United States from recognizing the Taliban.
According to the New York Times, the Taliban are also looking to do the same in order to secure international funding and legitimacy.
“No worries about this issue. They will try, but cannot do anything. Invaders, the United States and its friends have been defeated here. You saw their tanks, cannons and plane remained here,” said Saeed Khosti, a member of the Cultural Commission of the caretaker Taliban cabinet.
The new development comes as previously 20 members of the European Parliament–in the EU resolution draft on Afghanistan–called for Massoud to be invited to the EU Parliament and Council, but in the final version of that resolution the section was removed.
