Al-Jazeera reported that since the Taliban seized Kabul, government troops have offered resistance in the Panjshir province, north of Kabul, long recognized as an anti-Taliban stronghold.

Hundreds of mujahideen from the Islamic Emirate are heading to Panjshir, following the refusal of local officials to hand over the region peacefully, the group tweeted.

For his part, Ahmad Massoud, whose forces control the last major anti-Taliban stronghold, said on Sunday that he hopes to hold peaceful talks with the Taliban.

From his stronghold in the Panjshir Valley, Massoud gathered remnants of regular army and Special Forces units, as well as local militia fighters.

Massoud said his supporters are ready to fight if radical forces try to invade the valley.

Anti-Taliban forces took back three districts of northern Baghlan province, bordering Panjshir, in the only confirmed fighting since the fall of Kabul on August 15th.

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