Clashes between Taliban forces and the resistance front are ongoing with both sides claiming to have caused heavy casualties to the opposing side.

The resistance front says the Taliban’s heavy attacks on Panjshir were pushed back and the Taliban forces suffered heavy casualties during the fighting.

Fahim Fetrat, a member of the resistance front, said that the Taliban forces attacked Panjshir from four directions but were unable to enter Panjshir.

“Hundreds of enemy forces have been killed, wounded and arrested by the national resistance front forces. Tens of their armored vehicles have been set on fire and they remain in the area. They have lost several areas in Gulbahar and Jabal Saraj,” Fetrat said.

The Taliban, meanwhile, denied their forces had sustained casualties and said they had advanced in Panjshir from several directions.

“The Mujahideen have made advances into Panjshir’s Paryan district from Warsaj (district) in Takhar and Kiran Wa Manjan (district) in Badakhshan and they have met there. The Mujahideen also advanced into Panjshir from the direction of Kapisa. The central areas of Panjshir’s Shotul district are still under the control of the Islamic Emirate forces,” said Anaamullah Samangani, a member of the cultural commission of the Taliban.

Videos on social media show heavy fighting ongoing between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Afghan Former President Hamid Karzai in a statement on Friday urged both sides to stop fighting and to resolve their issues with dialogue.

“I urge both sides to resolve the problem through negotiations so that our suffering nation can enjoy full-fledged peace and prosperity,” the statement reads.  

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said everyone wants the Taliban and other ethnic and political groups to reach an agreement and form an inclusive government.