Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country and the entire country including Rashtrapati Bhavan was captured by the Taliban. However, the Taliban has not yet appointed its representative, who will take over the power of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Amrullah Saleh, the former Vice President of Afghanistan, has declared himself a ‘legitimate caretaker president’.
Amrullah Saleh released audio statement
In a tweet as well as an audio statement, Amrullah Saleh said, “As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus.”
War is not over yet: Amrullah Saleh
Panjsher Valley, the only district unconquered by the Taliban, has started to fly the flag of resistance all over again.
The forces of Amrullah Saleh, the former vice president of Afghanistan, who had previously declared himself president of the republic, have regained control of the Charikar area in Parwan province.
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Ten thousand soldiers, including the forces of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, are moving towards Panjsher in the war against the Taliban.
A strategically important road passes through Charikar through the Salang Tunnel that connects Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan. By the way, the influential General Dostum crossed the border with Uzbekistan together with a number of soldiers.
Ahmad Massoud and Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi have also promised to side with him. Ahmad is the son of the slain commander Ahmed Shah Masood during whose lifetime the Taliban could not conquer Panjshir Valley during its first spell in power from 1996 to 2001.
Sensing Panjsher as an oasis of relief from the Taliban, minority Shia Hazara families have reportedly walked 200 km to reach the Valley, famous for its emeralds, mulberries and indomitable fighters. Many of the Tajiks in the Afghan army have also arrived with their equipment, including armed personnel carriers and tanks, after withdrawing from the nearby frontlines.
Interestingly, the Farkhor air base in Tajikistan, 200 km away from Panjshir, is known to keep an Indian detachment of helicopters. In fact Ahmed Shah Masood was flown from Panjshir to an India-manned hospital in Farkhor after an assassination attempt on him by Al Qaida hitmen masquerading as journalists. However, Masood died before he could reach the hospital.