Ahmad Massoud, the commander of an Afghan insurgent organization, called on the diaspora to band together to find a political solution to end Taliban rule on Friday, describing his plea as the start of a new phase.
Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF), an armed organization fighting an insurgency in northern Afghanistan’s Panjshir Valley, declared that it was time to try to re-engage the Taliban in talks.
He said at a conference in Vienna, “We want to unify the diaspora… and gradually widen the dialogue and arrive to the point where we have a road map for the future of Afghanistan.”
We are just starting a new period, “he declared.
At the Vienna summit, 30 Taliban opponents, most of whom were exiles, were there.
According to Massoud, many recently created outside of Afghanistan parties are not pleased with the situation there right now and that it is time to put aside disagreements and “heal the wounds.”
He claimed that the Taliban’s control following the withdrawal of American-led forces last year has hampered women’s rights and provided a haven for terrorist organisations.
Ahmad Shah Massoud, a heroic combatant against the Soviet Union and the Taliban, is the father of Massoud.
Two days before the attacks on September 11, 2001, al-Qaida assassinated the older Massoud, also known as the Lion of Panjshir.
Since then, his son has taken up the fight against the Taliban, consistently calling the Islamist government illegitimate.
Fighting has erupted since NRF soldiers started an operation against the Taliban in May.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
