Will the Anti-Taliban Resistance Survive?
Author: Abdul Naser Noorzad, security, and geopolitical researcher, especially for Sangar
It has been 23 years since the absence of Massoud, the last legendary guerrilla of the century. Three incidents have shown that the absence of Massoud was the absence of tactics and strategy in the field of resistance to terrorism and extremism. Massoud was able to shine brightly as a star in the third stage of resistance and the fight against terrorism and the black rule of the Taliban and their allies.
The first stage was the resistance to the Soviet Union, and the second stage was the protection of the defenseless people of Kabul from the attacks of Hekmatyar's forces. Massoud became both a political leader who united all ethnic groups and resistance fighters against the Taliban and a military leader who precisely and effectively organized and carried out one of the most unequal wars of liberation.
Now, in the absence of Massoud, history has repeated itself and shown how destructive and unplanned the narrative of resistance after Massoud is. At the same time, the sacrifices of the resistance fighters of the third resistance cannot be ignored.
But the current stage, which resulted from two decades of negligence in power by forces that spent their entire lives in the school of Massoud, was miserable and unpredictable. Suppose Massoud was alive the republic collapsed, and the people of Afghanistan, especially the resistance, were forced to defend their occupied lands from terrorism and black arrogance, their first step, if we take into account historical experience, would have been mobilization, creating a narrative and preparing for war, even before the collapse. Panjshir, the stronghold of resistance and struggle, militant Andarab and Shamali, would have turned into a black cemetery for the Taliban.
Unfortunately, the followers of Massoud initially deviated from his line of thought and did not consider resistance to be expedient, and the few who chose the path of resistance were late and did not know about the fifth column inside.
The defeat of the defensive lines in Panjshir was noticeable even before the Taliban attacked the province. Young Ahmad Massoud, the only relic of the National Hero, was unfamiliar with such situations that have been repeated many times in history. Information about the enemy, efforts to prevent internal conspiracies, mobilization of forces, assessment of the resistance capabilities, preparation of forces and military needs, creation of reserve forces, assessment of the rear front lines, constant contact with the people and other forces that can be useful in the fight against the Taliban, selection of a combat position, establishment of a chain of communication and control, establishment of a balance in dividing the forces of resistance fighters in different directions and, finally, assessment of one's own strength and the strength of the enemy at the same time are the characteristics of a wise political and military leader, who should have been taken into account in the third resistance.
The general structural weakness of the third resistance, abuse of the front's capabilities, the beginning of political negotiations, "war is not a solution", and the weak message of "restoring democracy, human rights and elections" led to the failure of the third resistance, unlike the first and second, when all this was considered effective and brought results.
However, now we are talking about Massoud, who made many mistakes and achieved greater success. For example, Massoud knew the people around him well but did nothing to purify them. He constantly saw the weakness of his circle for money and wealth, but he could not exchange them for elements like himself. He did not trust the people around him and he had to survive and resist in a snake pit. He trusted the people around him who had extensive connections with the Americans, the British, the West, and the region. Those who counted the minutes of Massoud's death. Those who did not stop trying to end the resistance and dealt him the final blow.
The fate of the resistance and confrontation with the Taliban in our time has been decided by the lack of a plan and the lack of motivation to fight and try to find a political solution, which is what the resistance fighters chant. Perhaps no one remembers that the war front was more committed to the political path than to fighting on the battlefield. This shows the weakness of the struggle in general.
At the same time, the resistance had to rely on the people and their mobilization to continue the fight against the Taliban with the power of the people. Resistance with political slogans only works to create a narrative and does not resort to political capitulation from a military position.
Today, the Taliban and its supporters have realized this shortcoming: their opponent on the battlefield gives a political message and talks about negotiations, but does not give a signal about solving the problem in the context of military and combat pressure on it. This approach must change. The solution is considered to be a transition from words to actions, creating an atmosphere of trust between all parties willing to continue the resistance, mobilizing people and relying on internal forces, taking into account the region and those who play a role in the current issue of Afghanistan.
Until we address this great void, the resistance will be buried in the memory of history. In any case, Commander Massoud's charm, charisma, and innate leadership power have always remained in the minds of resistance fighters and freedom fighters.
May he rest in peace and blessed memory!
