First statement: Afghan politicians form resistance front to get rid of Taliban

Mustafa Kamel

A number of Afghan political figures announced the formation of a front called the Supreme Council of National Resistance of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to confront and oppose the new government formed by the Taliban after the movement took control of the reins of power in Afghanistan in mid-August. The front seeks to protect the United States’ 20-year investments in the country and to be the force to rid the country of fanaticism and terrorism. The registration comes six weeks after the Afghan resistance recruited Sonoran Policy Group to provide strategic advisory services.

Forming the front

After former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left the country and the Taliban formed its government, the formation of such a front is the first reaction of the personalities and leaders of political parties regarding political and military developments until the front made it clear that if the Taliban did not accept a political solution, the front would choose the second option, which is military activity, and that the Taliban will bear the responsibility for the situation.

The front commended the international community for not recognizing the government formed by the Taliban, and it called on the United Nations and all countries not to recognize the Taliban government, which the front described as an “authoritarian government that does not respect human rights and women and ignores religious minorities and official languages in Afghanistan.” It called on the international community and international relief agencies to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Afghan people, in addition to calling on the Taliban to stop the systematic killing and detention of military and security personnel from the previous government and to start direct and constructive negotiations with the front.

Andrei Sirenko, director of the Analytical Center of the Russian Political Science Association, indicated that the anti-Taliban resistance front opened its official representation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Axios reported that the Afghan front has registered to lobby US policymakers, indicating that it recognizes the need to win over senior officials in Washington.

According to Axios, Senator Lindsey Graham and Representative Mike Walter had earlier called on President Joe Biden to recognize Ahmad Massoud, as well as Amrullah Saleh, one of the founders of the resistance front.

Taliban reaction

Despite the passage of three months from the announcement of the new government, the Taliban did not announce its position on political activity and political parties. When the front was announced, the movement’s reaction was strong, and it described the founders of the front as old faces who only think about their own interests.

Resistance against the Taliban

The front is focused on a peaceful solution to the crisis and the resumption of negotiations with the Taliban, accusing the previous government of treachery and conspiracy that paved the way for the dismantling of the army.

The statement issued by the front said, “The Supreme Council of National Resistance prefers to resolve the fateful issues in Afghanistan through dialogue and negotiations, and its resumption is necessary and important to end the conflict in the country… These negotiations must aim at achieving a lasting and dignified peace that guarantees the rebuilding of the Republic on the basis of Islamic principles and the establishment of an elected system with the fair participation of all segments of society and political currents, and guarantees the basic rights of citizens, especially women, children and minorities.”

The leader of the Panjshir-based resistance front, Ahmad Massoud, announced in September his support for the initiative of the Afghan Ulema Council to conduct negotiations aimed at ending the fighting between the two parties.

He said in a statement, “The national resistance front generally welcomes the decision of the Afghan Ulema Council to urgently stop the war… The front agrees to solve the current problems, immediately stop the fighting, and continue the negotiation process, and it hopes that the Taliban will take practical steps to meet this demand by the honorable ulema (scholars).”

The mountainous province of Panjshir is a stronghold for the anti-Taliban resistance forces led by Massoud, a military-political leader of Tajik origin.