FDD Long War Journal's Bill Roggio talked about the Panjshir situation on the John Batchelor Show for CBS last night. They emphasized the importance of the terrain for defense. Podcast:
See also this September 2 report at LWJ by Bill and Andrew Tobin, National Resistance Front repels multi-day Taliban assault on Panjshir | FDD's Long War Journal. The second video in the report, showing what are obviously Al Qaeda fighters in a pickup truck headed for Panjshir, is the one Bill mentioned during his talk with John.
Also, today Sputnik reported on developments including these two items:
Posted at 14:42
Taliban Offensive in Panjshir Reportedly Slowed Down by Land Mines
The offensive of the Taliban (terrorist group, banned in Russia) against the capital of Afghanistan's northeastern province of Panjshir has been slowed down by land mines, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday, citing a source in the radical movement.
Landmines are said to be placed on the road to the capital city of Bazarak as well as the provincial governor's residence.
According to the broadcaster's source, the offensive and demining are being conducted at the same time.
Panjshir is the stronghold of the National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of late ex-Afghan guerrilla commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, and ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself caretaker president. Massoud pledged to step down in case the group forms an inclusive government and guarantees equal rights for all Afghans.
Panjshir Resistance Forces Say About 600 Taliban Militants Eliminated
Roughly 600 militants from the Taliban (terrorist movement, outlawed in Russia) were eliminated in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Panjshir on Saturday, the Afghan resistance forces said.
"About 600 Taliban terrorists have been liquidated in various districts of Panjshir since morning. More than 1,000 Taliban militants have been captured or surrendered themselves," the resistance forces' spokesman Fahim Dashti tweeted.
The spokesman added that the Taliban had problems with getting supplies from other Afghan provinces. [...]
There are more updates in the report.
Re the mine clearing, one of Amrullah Saleh's posts to his Twitter page on Sept 3:
Talibs have blocked humanitarian access to Panjshir, do racial profile of travelers, use military age men of Panjhsir as mine clearance tools walking them on mine fields, have shut phone, electricity & not allow medicine either. People can only carry small amount of cash.
Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) / Twitter
At seems some of the electricity was knocked out by Taliban shelling during fighting, at least according to the power company spox. From an earlier Sputnik report:
08:07 GMT 03.09.2021 Sputnik live updates on Panjshir resistance
10:00 update:Afghanistan’s northern province of Panjshir and parts of Kapisa province were left without electricity after at least two electricity pylons were destroyed in a shelling during the continuing clashes, local power utility company DABS said on Friday.
“As clashes continue on the Panjshir road, two electricity pylons were destroyed … as they were hit by an artillery shell. which resulted in power outage in the province,” DABS said in a statement, adding that some districts across Kapisa were also affected.
DABS staffers are ready to begin technical effort to restore electricity as soon as “suitable conditions are in place,” the company added.
Related news
TTG, at Col. Lang's Turcopolier site, features news about a PBS Frontline documentary, What Is the Fatemiyoun Brigade and Why Does It Make the Taliban Nervous?
What Is the Fatemiyoun & Why Does It Make the Taliban Nervous? (pbs.org)
The Hazara and the Liwa Fatemiyoun - TTG - TurcopolierTurcopolier
Also, this report published August 29
... Speaking on Afghanistan, [Defense Minister] Singh said, "The changing equation in Afghanistan is a challenge for us... These situations have forced our country to rethink its strategy. We are changing our strategy and the formation of QUAD underlines this strategy."Singh said the Centre is considering forming Integrated Battle Groups, which will facilitate faster decision making and increase the number of integrated fighting units. ...
India is in a difficult position, as this tough-minded analysis explains:
India Poised to Lose Influence in Afghanistan – The Diplomat
We'll see whether Singh can pull a rabbit out of a hat.
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