Pakistan, Russia discuss Afghan peace amid fears of Taliban-NRF showdown

Pakistan fully supports an “inclusive political settlement” for peace and stability in Afghanistan amid fears of the Taliban’s effective takeover of the country leading to a civil war. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made the remarks during a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Qureshi said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was of critical importance for Pakistan and the region. He also informed Lavrov about Pakistan’s consultations with regional countries to deal with challenges posed by recent developments in Afghanistan, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Qureshi said Pakistan was facilitating the evacuation of foreigners stranded in Afghanistan. Qureshi is expected to leave for Uzbekistan on Tuesday. He will also travel to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the Afghanistan situation.

On Thursday, Russia said it supported dialogue in Afghanistan amid reports of “resistance forces” of Afghanistan’s deposed Vice President Amrullah Saleh and Ahmad Massoud, the son of famed mujahideen commander and Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud, preparing to launch a guerrilla campaign against the Taliban from Panjshir Valley.

A day earlier, Ahmad wrote in The Washington Post that he was “ready to follow in my father’s footsteps, with mujahideen fighters who are prepared to once again take on the Taliban.”

Ahmad and Saleh have assembled a fighting force of around 9,000 in Panjshir under the banner of an National Resistance Front (NRF), according to an AFP report.

Spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary said while the NRF’s main goal was to avoid “more bloodshed in Afghanistan,” it was also prepared to take on the Taliban.

Latest AFP pictures revealed dozens of recruits participating in military training exercises and a handful of armoured humvees driving across the valley, which is famed for its natural defenses provided by the Hindu Kush mountains, just 150 kilometer northeast of Kabul.

The Taliban have reportedly amassed fighters to encircle the valley with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claiming the group had seized control of Deh Salah and Pul-e-Hesar districts in the Baghlan province, next to Panjshir.