Afghanistan latest: Taliban take control of final province

The Taliban have taken control of Panjshir province, the last holdout of anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

It was the only province the Taliban had not seized during their offensive last month.

Thousands of Taliban fighters overran eight districts of Panjshir overnight, according to witnesses from the area. They spoke on condition of anonymity fearing for their safety.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement on Monday, saying Panjshir was now under the control of the Taliban fighters.

The anti-Taliban fighters had been led by the former vice president and the son of the iconic anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud who was killed just days before the September 11 attacks in the United States.