In an exclusive interview with Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), I asked him about the outcomes of three and a half years of armed and political struggle against the Taliban regime, the turning points of this resistance, and the future of guerrilla warfare against the Taliban.
This interview was published in Independent Persian, and here I am sharing its English version.
 |
| Ahmad Msoud and Mukhtar Wafayee |
Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), stated in an exclusive interview with Independent Persian in Vienna, Austria, that the Taliban, much like the Soviet forces in Panjshir, have set up military camps in the region, but they will meet the same fate. He affirmed that anti-Taliban forces will reclaim every stone and tree of the homeland through armed resistance and political efforts, sooner or later.
The NRF leader, who was in Austria to attend the fifth round of the “Vienna Process for a Democratic Afghanistan” conference, responded to a question regarding the key turning points after three and a half years of armed struggle and political efforts, saying:
“The refusal of the people to surrender to the Taliban, the unwavering determination, and the continued struggle—both militarily and politically—for justice, are the defining aspects of our efforts.”
Massoud acknowledged that geopolitical factors have prevented the major change that many have been anticipating in Afghanistan. However, he emphasized that the situation is evolving:
“A people who refuse to accept humiliation will eventually witness victory. I firmly believe that sooner or later, we will witness those great changes.”
The NRF’s Guerrilla Warfare Strategy
Since the collapse of the Afghan Republic on August 15, 2021, NRF forces, led by Ahmad Massoud, have been engaged in combat against the Taliban across various provinces in Afghanistan. After fierce and deadly battles in Panjshir in 2021 and 2022, the NRF shifted its military strategy from direct confrontations to urban guerrilla warfare against the Taliban.
According to data released by the NRF’s media office, its forces carried out 27 attacks in 10 provinces in January, resulting in the deaths of 42 Taliban members and injuries to 37 others. However, the Taliban have denied these attacks and prevented local media from accessing details regarding the incidents.
Despite this, Ahmad Massoud remains confident that the Taliban will ultimately meet the same fate as the Soviet forces that invaded Afghanistan in the 1980s.
“Foreigners and Terrorists Feel Safer in Afghanistan Than Its Citizens”
Panjshir, Ahmad Massoud’s birthplace, witnessed some of the heaviest clashes between NRF forces and the Taliban in 2021 and 2022. However, since early 2023, apart from sporadic guerrilla attacks and landmine operations, no major direct engagements have taken place.
Historically, Panjshir never fell to the Soviets or to the Taliban during their first rule, under the leadership of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the father of Ahmad Massoud. However, it is now under Taliban control.
A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report on terrorism, published in February 2024, revealed that Al-Qaeda has established eight training camps across Afghanistan, one of which is a weapons depot in Panjshir, highlighting the group’s freedom of movement under Taliban rule.
When asked about the current situation in Panjshir, Massoud remarked:
“The Taliban have come and set up camps for a few days—just as the Soviets did. And we all saw what happened to them. Foreigners and terrorist groups feel more secure in Afghanistan than its own citizens, and that is the Taliban’s biggest achievement.”
The NRF leader emphasized that the Taliban’s alliance with foreign terrorist groups lacks public support. He further asserted:
“When we have the people on our side, whether today or tomorrow, or the day after, we will reclaim every stone and tree of our homeland [from the Taliban].”
Will Trump's Policy Toward the Taliban Be Different?
The Biden administration faced heavy criticism for sending weekly $40 million cash packages to Afghanistan, funds that Republicans argue ended up in the hands of the Taliban. These financial transactions sparked debates in the U.S. Congress.
With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, these payments have stopped due to the 90-day suspension of U.S. foreign aid. However, it remains unclear what stance the Trump administration will adopt toward the Taliban.
The appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense—both of whom have previously opposed the Taliban—has raised hopes among anti-Taliban forces for increased pressure on the regime.
Despite these developments, Ahmad Massoud believes that Afghanistan’s liberation will come from within, not from external forces. While acknowledging Trump’s opposition to sending cash packages to the Taliban, Massoud stated:
“When the U.S. is cutting aid to Ukraine, the chances of it continuing cash transfers to the Taliban are even lower.”
However, he also stressed that Afghanistan’s future must be shaped by its own people, not by foreign actors:
“My personal experience in 37 years of life has taught me that any nation that depends on external powers will end up weak and humiliated.”
He further emphasized that unity and resistance among the Afghan people will ultimately attract international support.
The Vienna Process and the Path to a Democratic Afghanistan
The Vienna Process for a Democratic Afghanistan has reached a stage where it aims to foster unity and coordination among anti-Taliban forces, Massoud said, adding that this was the most crucial step for Afghanistan’s future.
He urged Afghans worldwide to fulfill their civic responsibilities in whatever way possible to help establish a legitimate government in Afghanistan.
Massoud explained:
“Afghanistan was thrown into instability and suffering due to the geopolitical rivalry between the East and the West.”
However, he emphasized that efforts to rebuild Afghanistan must respect the interests of various countries while ensuring that the country becomes a regional hub for cooperation and engagement with the world, rather than a safe haven for terrorism.
“We will spare no effort to achieve an Afghanistan free of terrorism,” Massoud concluded.
0 Comments