Afghanistan’s Resistance Leader Vows Not To Surrender After Taliban’s Claimed Victory
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – The leader of the last remaining resistance in Afghanistan said Wednesday he would never surrender to Afghanistan’s Islamist Taliban rulers.
Ahmad Massoud spoke after the Taliban claimed victory in the northern Panjshir Valley, the last hold-out in fighting for control over Afghanistan.
The Taliban released several videos of their alleged takeover of Panjshir and the raising of the Taliban flag at government buildings in the province Monday.
But Massoud, who leads the National Resistance Front (NRF), denied the claims. “I will never surrender to the Taliban,” he told Just the News. “I will fight them.” The enemy, he added, is not acting in good faith.
“The Taliban want the world to recognize them, and then they want to oppress the Afghan people again,” the site quoted him as saying from an undisclosed location. “If someone invades our land, we will fight against it and defend ourselves and the rights of the Afghan people.”
The NRF’s foreign relations head, Ali Maisam Nazary, said the resistance forces are “present in all strategic positions across the valley to continue the fight,” Worthy News monitored.
“We assure the people of Afghanistan that the struggle against the Taliban and their partners will continue until justice and freedom prevails.”
RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS
Massoud said he welcomed proposals from religious scholars for holding peace talks with the Taliban if they pull back their forces from his native Panjshir.
However, he faced an uphill battle with several sources confirming the killing of the NRF’s official spokesman, Fahim Dashty, along with Massoud’s cousin, General Abdul Wudood, during Sunday’s fighting.
The clashes came amid concerns that the Taliban government includes Sirajuddin Haqqani, a suspected terrorist wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The FBI said it has offered up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of Haqqani, who now serves as interior minister.
“Haqqani is wanted for questioning in connection with the January 2008 attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed six people, including an American citizen,” the FBI explained.
He is “believed to have coordinated and participated in cross-border attacks against the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan.”
AMERICAN HOSTAGE
Haqqani was allegedly also involved “in the planning of the assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in 2008,” the FBI added.
Additionally, he was reportedly linked to holding an American hostage, contractor Mark Frerichs, who disappeared last year in Afghanistan.
Possibly hundreds of other Americans and thousands of allies also face kidnappings, abuse, or even killings behind enemy lines after the U.S chaotic withdrawal, several sources say.
Despite the setbacks, U.S. security officials say from high perches, the resistance can attack enemy forces in the valley.
Yet, the Taliban’s claimed victory in Panjshir Valley was due to make it more difficult to evacuate Americans, persecuted Afghan Christians, and other allies.
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