The National Resistance Front (NRF) has confirmed the presence of its military forces across Afghanistan and claimed responsibility for a deadly operation against Taliban fighters in Panjshir province.
General Qadam Shah Shahim, Chief of Staff of the NRF, told Afghanistan International that the recently circulated images of senior NRF commanders Khalid Amiri and Hasib Panjshiri—seen in mountainous terrain dressed in combat gear—serve as evidence of the group’s active presence within the country. “This is an instance of our forces’ presence inside Afghanistan,” Shahim said, reaffirming the NRF’s ongoing resistance to Taliban control.
The statement comes as Hasib Panjshiri, in a video posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, declared, “Our country is under the occupation of the terrorist Taliban. We will continue our struggle to reclaim our land from the grip of this criminal group. We firmly believe in achieving victory.”
Coinciding with the commanders’ appearance, the NRF announced it had carried out a targeted attack on a Taliban base in the Dara district of Panjshir on the night of Friday, 17 May. The group claimed that 13 Taliban fighters were killed and four others wounded in the strike, which also resulted in the destruction of weapons and equipment.
Local sources reported a powerful explosion that night, with one resident telling Afghanistan International that the Taliban had turned a tribal elder’s house into a military base, which was the site of the blast.
The Taliban has yet to issue a statement on the incident.
Led by Ahmad Massoud, the NRF remains the most prominent organised armed opposition to Taliban rule, frequently claiming attacks in Panjshir and other northern provinces.
