Afghan ‘caretaker’ president Amrullah Saleh flees to Tajikistan: Reports

Kabul: Afghan ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself caretaker president, left the province of Panjshir and is heading to Tajikistan, Al Jazeera reported on Monday, citing a source in the former Afghan administration.

Earlier in the day, the Taliban claimed complete control of Panjshir, which previously remained the last stronghold of resistance led by Saleh and Ahmad Massoud.

However, the National Resistance Front in a tweet claimed that the Taliban’s claim of occupying Panjshir is “false”.

It said the NRF forces “are present in all strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight. We assure the people of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban and their partners will continue until justice and freedom prevails.”

The resistance forces have said that their positions were bombed continually by Pakistani drones and helicopters, and thousands of Pakistani special forces, along with Al Qaeda and other foreign troops, all equipped with superior weaponry, were fighting against the Resistance forces in Panjshir.

There was no news of Ahmad Massoud's whereabouts, though according to reports he was in Tajikistan, which has declared it will not recognise a Taliban government and has demanded equal voice for the ethnic minorities. Tajiks form a sizeable majority in Afghanistan, and Massoud is said to be a Tajik. (Inputs from UNI)