Hasib Panjshiri buried after ICRC mediates return of body, with restrictions on funeral attendance and protests

By The South Asia Times

KABUL - Hasib Panjshiri, a prominent commander of Afghanistan's National Resistance Front (NRF), was buried in Panjshir province on Monday, four days after his death, following the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mediation for the return of his body to his family, according to Amu News.

Panjshiri was laid to rest in the Zaman Kor area of Anaba district, but family members told Amu that the Taliban imposed strict conditions on the burial. Authorities barred the family from holding a large funeral ceremony and prohibited slogans, protests, and the display or carrying of photographs of the slain commander.

One relative, whose voice was altered for security reasons, told Amu that hundreds had gathered for the funeral but Taliban forces prevented them from approaching the burial site.

"I was there. They brought the body, and those who were present had already performed the funeral prayer," the relative said. "Six or seven hundred people had gathered, but the Taliban did not allow them to get close" .

Local sources told Amu that residents from other provinces who traveled to attend the funeral were prevented by the Taliban from entering Panjshir. Authorities also determined where Panjshiri would be buried.

A Panjshir resident, whose voice was also altered for security reasons, told Amu that Panjshiri was buried behind his home, in an area now used as a Taliban base, adding: "We were not allowed to get within 500 meters of the funeral site".

Further reporting indicates that the mullah who led the funeral prayer was beaten and detained by Taliban forces. The Taliban have not publicly commented on the allegations regarding restrictions on the funeral.

Panjshiri, also known as Hasib Qowai Markaz, was a senior military commander with the NRF, an armed opposition group led by Ahmad Massoud. He was killed on August 20 along with several companions in an ambush by Taliban forces in the northern Salang area.

According to the Long War Journal, Panjshiri was traveling toward Andarab district in Baghlan province with seven other NRF members to conduct an operation against the Taliban when the ambush occurred.

He had served in special units of Afghanistan's former National Directorate of Security before the collapse of the former government in August 2021, later joining the armed resistance against the Taliban. He was 34 years old and had five children.

Following his death, videos circulated on social media appearing to show Taliban fighters desecrating his body. The NRF called on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to investigate possible violations of international law.

The ICRC has previously facilitated such handovers in Afghanistan, including the return of mortal remains during previous conflicts