ISLAMABAD: The claims of Pakistan’s involvement in the fight between the Taliban and the resistance forces of Ahmad Massoud — the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a veteran warlord who successfully resisted Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001 before his assassination two days before the 9/11 attacks — in Panjshir Valley, propagated mainly by Indian news outlets, were incorrect, the New York Times said.
Defeating the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan of Massoud, the Taliban captured on September 6 the last part of Afghanistan still holding out against their rule, declaring that the victory completed their takeover of the country ravaged by decades of war and insurgency.
Pictures on social media showed Taliban fighters standing in front of the gate of the Panjshir provincial governor’s compound days before the 20th anniversary of the 2001 attacks that saw the US-led alliance invading Afghanistan and toppling the Taliban government.
“Panjshir, which was the last hideout of the escapee enemy, is captured,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference. But Massoud did not concede defeat, saying his force, drawn from the remnants of the regular Afghanistan army as well as local militia fighters, was still fighting.
However, two Times correspondents who travelled to the picturesque valley observed that “combat had largely ceased, at least for now, and what resistance remained seemed confined to mountainous areas practically inaccessible by foot or by vehicle.”
“Most of the residents had fled before the fighting. Those who stayed behind were struggling with spiking market prices and a lack of food,” the report said.
Alluding to a widely shared video claiming Pakistan drones were operating over the valley, it said the footage was, in fact, graphics from a military tactical shooter video game, ARMA 3.
The footage was extensively shared by Republic TV and Zee Hindustan, two of India’s most-watched television channels.
The report also quoted Patricia Gossman, associate director for Human Rights Watch Asia, as saying “there is an avalanche of unverified information on social media”.
