Afghan resistance chief ‘killed by Taliban’ as Lions of Panjshir launch battle to the death with hundreds slaughtered

AN AFGHAN resistance chief has reportedly been killed by the Taliban - as the "Lions of Panjshir" resistance fighters launch a battle to the death.

Fahim Dashti, a spokesman for the Panjshir Resistance and journalist, died fighting against the Taliban, reports claim.

Dashti's official Twitter account was still posting on Sunday evening but it may be being run by others.

In addition to being a resistance spokesman, Dashti was also a key member of the Jamiat political party.

Dashti made his last media appearance on BBC Persian last week.

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan released a statement on Facebook saying: "With deep touch and regret, we lost two dear brothers and colleagues and fighters today.

"Fahim Dashty, the head of the office of Amir Saheb Ahmad Masoud, and General Sahib Abdul Wadood Zhor, the nephew of the national hero of Afghanistan in the battle against the fascist group. Congratulations on your martyrdom!"

It comes as hundreds of fighters are reported to have died in bloody battles between the "Lions of Panjshir" resistance fighters and the Taliban as the terrorists attacked last free stronghold in Afghanistan.

Heavy fighting has been reported around the Panjshir Valley - an area just 80 miles north of Kabul that is regarded as an impenetrable natural fortress.

Casualty numbers remain uncertain on both sides - but it has been reported that the death toll is now in the hundreds as the bloodshed continues.

Resistance forces - officially titled the National Resistance Front (NRF) - have vowed to never surrender and fight to the last man as the Taliban attempt to take control of the last free bastion in Afghanistan.

Taliban officials had claimed the area had fallen - sparking wild celebrations in Kabul that left 17 people dead as fighters stupidly fired their guns into the air.

However, resistance sources have denied this and the valley is understood to still be standing against the Taliban.

The stronghold - which is protected by mountains - is said to be hanging in the balance.

Around 200,000 people live in the region which has never been conquered before - with fighters holding out in the area beating back in the Soviets in the 80s and the Taliban in the 90s.

Resistance fighters in Panjshir are understood to be local tribesmen who are fighting alongside former Afghan soldiers and police, including Western-trained commandos and special forces.

And the force has stockpiled military equipment including tanks, helicopters, artillery guns and trucks as they prepare for a potentially long siege.

However, they are facing a Taliban who is armed with a massive multi-billion dollar arsenal of US weapons as the terrorists seized hundreds of thousands of pieces of equipment that had been left behind.