Gradual Collapse of Taliban Presence in Panjshir
Local sources and an insider from the Taliban’s Amine Command confirm that the number of Taliban fighters at their outposts in Panjshir has drastically decreased.
According to IntelMedium, the Taliban previously maintained over 600 outposts in various parts of Panjshir, each housing approximately 10 fighters on average. However, local sources report that many of these outposts now only have 2 to 3 Taliban fighters stationed at them.
An insider from the Taliban’s command, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, attributed this reduction to “budget cuts.” This source stated that in recent months, financial support for the Taliban fighters stationed in Panjshir has decreased, which has led to a reduction in the number of fighters at the outposts.
Local residents confirm that many Taliban outposts in the area have become symbolic and ineffective. Some residents told IntelMedium that the decrease in the number of Taliban fighters has alleviated their concerns. Some believe this reduction could be a sign of a gradual Taliban retreat from Panjshir.
Panjshir, once a symbol of resistance against foreign forces and the Taliban over the past decades, was the first province to become a center of military resistance against the Taliban after the fall of the Republic in 2021. The decrease in the Taliban presence in the area is viewed by the public as a sign of the gradual erosion of the group’s control over northern regions.