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Ahmad Massoud leads the fight in Panjshir with his band of Afghan resistance fighters. Panjshir Valley is located just 77 miles Northwest of Kabul. In the last few weeks, their Army has grown from 6,000 to 10,000. And the National Resistance Army (NRA) has a wide perimeter that stretches across the valley. 

All sources from Panjshir claim the perimeter is solid despite fighting off the Taliban several times in the last few days. Panjshir represents the last major territory standing between the Taliban militia and total control over Afghanistan.

As reported by NPR's “All Things Considered” on Friday, Ali Nazary, the NRF head of foreign relations, is currently in the U.S. Nazary says he is in close contact with Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, who was vice president under President Ashraf Ghani.

He is adamant that the reports that the Taliban have taken control of the province. He claims that the Taliban is trying to manage perceptions. And insists that the rumors are "propaganda." 

The Panjshir Valley "has not been breached," he said.  "The Taliban are facing fierce resistance."

"The Taliban propaganda machine is trying to divert attention, is trying to spread propaganda, to weaken morale in Kabul and elsewhere," Nazary said.

The NRF is made up of various local militias and the remnants of the Afghan army.

Their leader Massoud is the Western-educated son of the Afghan hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud. The elder Massoud commanded an army that fought off the Russians and the Taliban in Panjshir. His son’s army is gathered in the same valley today.

Saleh video on the fight in Panjshir

 Amrullah Saleh has joined Massoud in the valley. In a video posted on Twitter, Saleh also denied rumors of a defeat.

Countering reports that he and Massoud had also fled, the former vice president told his supporters that he is in the Panjshir Valley. He says the NRF has "held ground." He assures the world that he is still alive. And the fight in Panjshir continues.

"Fortunately, our forces bravely fought them. They repelled all of their attacks," he said.

Panjshir has been historically difficult to defeat. The mountains provide a fortress against invaders. But without air support, it remains questionable how long the NRF can hold out.

They face a larger and better-equipped Taliban force.

Heroes all alone

Nazary said al-Qaida is joining the Taliban. And the resistance is fighting them "all alone."

In the NPR interview with Nazary, he claims that "The whole world has abandoned us." "We're not receiving any type of assistance, whatever form it could be. And we're fighting al-Qaida and international terrorism at the moment. And everyone is ignoring this."