Taliban say they took Panjshir, last holdout Afghan province

Kabul

The Taliban said on Monday they have taken control ofPanjshir province north of Kabul, the Afghan capital. The province was the lastholdout of anti-Taliban forces in the country and the only province the Talibanhad not seized during their sweep last month.

Thousands of Taliban fighters overrun eight districts of Panjshir overnight,according to witnesses from the area. They spoke on condition of anonymityfearing for their safety. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on Monday, sayingPanjshir was now under the control of the Taliban fighters.

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The anti-Taliban fighters had been led by the former vice president and the sonof the iconic anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud who was killed just daysbefore the 9/11 attacks in the United States.