Air corridor from Tajikistan supplies weapons to the anti-Taliban resistance
By Boyko Nikolov On Aug 24, 2021
DUSHANBE, ($1=11.40 Tajikistani Somoni) – Russian sources claim that an air corridor has been built between Tajikistan and the Afghan province of Panjshir to donate weapons to the anti-Taliban resistance, which is positioned in this part of Afghanistan. The information has so far been disseminated by Sputnik, Aviapro, and Herat Times. BulgarianMilitary.com cannot confirm the accuracy of the information but sent its field source to investigate the information and disclose whether it is true.
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According to the Russians, Tajikistan is seriously concerned about the Taliban's influence in Afghanistan, which they are gradually increasing, and is ready to take part in the anti-Taliban resistance not only with weapons but also with soldiers. At this stage, however, sources say, only Tajik helicopters fly to Panjshir to deliver bombs, missiles, light machine guns, mortars, ammunition, and more.
"An air bridge has been built between Tajikistan and Panjshir," Sputnik Afghanistan reported, citing the Herat Times. "Helicopters are supplying weapons, ammunition, and materials needed for Tajik troops for the first time," Infoteka 24 reported.
BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that on August 23 under the leadership of local resistance leaders Ahmad Masood and Amrulah Saleh, an ambush was organized in the Afghan province of Baglan on the way of the Taliban movement. According to preliminary data, the resistance has killed 300 Taliban fighters. The information was also confirmed by the BBC journalist Yalda Hakim in his Twitter account.
Update from the Anti-Taliban resistance – they tell me: Taliban ambushed in Andarab of Baghlan province. At least 300 Taliban fighters were killed. The group is lead by #AhmadMassoud & @AmrullahSaleh2 #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/uJD1VEcHY1
— Yalda Hakim (@BBCYaldaHakim) August 22, 2021
"Update from the Anti-Taliban resistance – they tell me: Taliban ambushed in Andarab of Baghlan province. At least 300 Taliban fighters were killed," Hakim wrote.
The journalist also published photos of the Taliban captured during the ambush. Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reported, citing an informed source, that Taliban fighters had regained control of three areas of Baglan province.
"Currently, no place in Baglan is under the control of the resistance forces," the source said. As the agency notes, at present only Panjshir resistance can be attributed to the only organized focus of the confrontation with the Taliban.
Earlier, the leader of the Afghan resistance refused to hand over Panjshir to the Taliban.
On August 15, the radical Taliban movement announced the establishment of control over the entire territory of Afghanistan. The Taliban also controls the country's capital, Kabul. Thousands of people hid at the capital's airport, trying to get out of the country.
BulgarianMilitary.com recalls that a representative of the Taliban's political service visited the Russian embassy in Kabul on Saturday, August 21, and handed over a proposal for a political agreement to the Panjshir authorities, Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said.
"Today we had a representative of the Taliban's political service at the embassy and he asked to send a political signal to the people of Panjshir," Zhirnov told Soloviev's live channel on Youtube then.
"They asked Russia to convey the following to the leaders and people of Panjshir: so far the Taliban have not attempted to enter Panjshir by force, the group is counting on finding a peaceful way to resolve the situation, for example by reaching a political agreement," he added.
According to the ambassador, the statement noted that the Taliban "do not want bloodshed and are in the mood for dialogue." Zhirnov added that such a statement suggested that the Taliban wanted to resolve the situation "in a more civilized way" than Amrulah Saleh, who was Afghanistan's vice president under Ashraf Ghani.