Arrests, House Searches Begin In Panjshir Following Attack On Taliban Stronghold

Following a deadly attack on a Taliban base in the village of Mohammad Baig Khel in Panjshir province, Taliban intelligence forces have arrested a number of local residents and launched house-to-house search operations in the province.

Local sources in Dara district told Afghanistan International that after the attack on Friday evening, October 4, the Taliban's intelligence put severe pressure on the residents of the area.

According to sources, the Taliban's intelligence agency had arrested some local people, some of whom were released through the mediation of influential people. However, sources say that six people, including the principal of Mirza Shahid School and a tribal elder of Tundkho village, are still in Taliban custody.

According to sources, these people were arrested by the Taliban from their homes in the past 48 hours and transferred to an unknown location.

According to sources, "After the attack on the Taliban base, Dara district is completely surrounded by the Taliban. House-to-house search operations are continuing, and the roads leading to the district have been blocked."

The Taliban’s operations happened after an attack in the Dara e Abdullah Khel in which a number of Taliban forces were killed and wounded. The National Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the attack and announced the number of Taliban casualties at 13 dead and two wounded.

"The attack was carried out at 6:25pm on Friday by the brave forces of the National Resistance Front against the Taliban in the village of Mohammad Baig Khel, Panjshir," the statement said.

The National Resistance Front described the attack as one of the deadliest attacks for the Taliban in recent months. However, the Taliban claimed that the explosion of a gas balloon resulted to injuries of six of their forces.