Novaya Epokha (New Era) presents an exclusive interview with the Executive Chairman of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, the brother of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the National Hero of Afghanistan - Ahmad Wali Massoud.
Author: Jamilya Chebotareva, www.novayaepoxa.com
FOR INFORMATION: Ahmad Wali Massoud was born on November 1, 1964, in the village of Jangalak, Parvan (now Panjshir) province of Afghanistan. The younger brother of Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Massoud graduated from the University of Westminster in London in 1989 as a diplomat. He has served as the Afghan Ambassador to the UK, Ahmad Shah Massoud's Special Representative for Europe, and the Jamiat-e-Islami Representative in London.
He is the founder of a political party called the Afghan National Movement. He also founded the Mandagar Daily newspaper and Tarikhe Yadgar magazine. Massoud published his first book titled The National Program in 2012.
Founder and Chairman of the Masood Foundation.
He is currently the Executive Chairman of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA).
— Mr. Massoud, please tell us about the current situation in Afghanistan. What is happening in the country today?
Nobody knows what is happening and what will happen next. Afghanistan for the first time has become a field of geopolitical games for the region and the world. Yes, the country has always been a kind of playground for the games of foreign forces, but this time a terrible and unpredictable game has unfolded, in which terrorist forces, the latest weapons, irreconcilable rivals, and extremely unpredictable plans of the world's special services are involved.
The victims of these games are the people of Afghanistan and a local leadership on a national scale capable of defending Afghanistan has not yet been formed.
- According to the Doha agreement between the Taliban and the United States, the new rulers of Kabul took on two main requirements: 1) the creation of an inclusive government; 2) the elimination of terrorist organizations, and today, according to our estimates, there are more than 20.
Obviously, they did not succeed - there is no inclusive government, and terrorist organizations, primarily ISIS, threaten neighbors. What does this mean - the Taliban deceived the United States and the world community, which welcomed the Doha agreement?
- The Doha agreement was signed at the initiative of the United States by Khalilzad and the government of Qatar on the transfer of power to the Taliban. The Taliban are part of a brutal instrument of US geopolitical games in the region.
The remaining points of the Doha agreement are fun for the people of Afghanistan and divert the attention of the whole world from the realities of the Afghan tragedy.
- What is the current state of the Afghan people? What are the new realities of their lives?
- The people of Afghanistan have never lived such a humiliating life in the history of this land. In addition to being deprived of basic necessities, they are also deprived of the most basic human rights.
According to reliable international sources, more than 20 million of the country's 35 million people live below the poverty line, the Taliban have completely abolished the rights of women and girls, and there is no such thing as State Administration.
- How do people generally see the Taliban government?
- During the two years of their illegitimate rule, the Taliban have not been able to establish the slightest connection with the people. People look at the Taliban as an occupying, anti-cultural, anti-scientific, and anti-human force. Not only have the Taliban failed to gain popular, political, and international legitimacy, they don't even have moral legitimacy.
- During the coming of the Taliban to power, the Taliban leadership made several statements at once about how they are going to transform the lives of ordinary people for the better. Some of these were allowing female adolescents to receive education and allowing women to work. Why don't the Taliban keep their own promises?
- Because the theology of the Taliban does not allow studying modern sciences and knowledge, especially for girls and women. The Taliban cannot act against their beliefs and values. If he changes, he will only agree with the program of his extremist religion, which, apart from extremism and terrorism, will be less compatible with the essence of religion.
— Almost 2 years have passed, and during all this time the Taliban has not been officially recognized by any state by Russia, Iran, China, etc., including the United States, which gave them this power in the country. Where did they get this support from then? Who is behind all this?
- There are certain criteria for the government to be recognized at the official level, and they must be clearly met. The Taliban do not meet even the minimum standards. The Taliban was not created for rule at all, but as a violent instrument of terrorism to destabilize the region and discredit Islam.
Most of the countries participating in the games against Afghanistan are more focused on their own interests. But none of these countries is willing to take the risk of recognizing the Taliban. Although some players want to deter their regional adversary through tactical politics and side interactions, in general all players know the true nature of the Taliban and play the regional game.
— Every day, there are many reports of crimes committed by the Taliban from Afghanistan. Why is this happening? Is it a feeling of impunity or...?
- There is reliable evidence of bloodthirsty crimes committed by the Taliban. But, their crimes against the people in the past two years will definitely entail punishment in the future. Humanitarian and international courts and organizations must never turn a blind eye to the terrible crimes of the Taliban.
- What is the position of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, which is led by your nephew and son-in-law Ahmad Masoud? As far as we know, the Resistance Front is not as active on the battlefield today as, for example, last year. Why? What is the plan of action for the leadership of the Front?
- A detailed discussion of the current situation of the Front is needed. It should be remembered that the Resistance Front was revived from scratch, while the Taliban terrorist group, together with international terrorists was sponsored by their foreign patrons for 2 years with progressive weapons, NATO equipment, and billions of dollars.
Naturally, the focus of the fighting has decreased due to the lack of weapons and ammunition, but compared to last year, our people are highly motivated and ready to resist the tyranny of the Taliban and the occupation of the country by international terrorists. With more determination than ever before, we continue to fight for the freedom of our home, land, and culture.
The front has new military plans, which we do not see the need to talk about now.
- In your opinion, why does the international community not support the National Resistance Front?
- As you know, when we talk about the world community, the United States automatically comes to mind. As I mentioned earlier, America coordinates with Pakistan, Qatar, some other countries, and sometimes with the Taliban.
The First Resistance had some regional allies, I hope that the Second Resistance will attract the attention of regional supporters and the awakened consciousness of the world community.
- What is the difference between the Second Resistance and the First Resistance? Why was Ahmad Shah Massoud more successful than his son?
- The difference between the First Resistance and the Second is very large both in terms of time, circumstances, people, leadership, involved players, information, and geopolitical maps of influential and experienced players.
Today, the resistance belongs to all the people of Afghanistan, who have resisted their common enemy, the Taliban, in various ways. The first Resistance was not of that magnitude.
During the First Resistance, the Taliban were an ideological group that believed more in their religious values and acted in concert. Today, the Taliban operate in Afghanistan as mafia groups.
In the First Resistance, the Taliban did not have NATO weapons, they even waged a hostile struggle with the United States. Today, the Taliban cannot rule without US support of $40 million a week.
- They talk a lot about the threat of the Taliban and other terrorist organizations in relation to the northern countries - the countries of Central Asia, Russia, and China, but these countries are literally in contact with the Taliban. Why?
- Afghanistan with the presence of the Taliban and other international terrorist groups has become a real and powerful threat to the region. To do this, they created and supported the Taliban. If some countries in the region interact with the Taliban they should expect destructive and unpleasant consequences from terrorists who always practice destabilization of the region, especially in Central Asia and inside Afghanistan. Any policy of appeasement, interaction, and tactics with the Taliban will strengthen the foundations of terrorism in the region and prolong its life.
- How do you see the future of Afghanistan and the entire region - better with the Taliban or without them?
- Doesn't matter. With the Taliban in the form of terrible games of players and destructive plans, the region will turn into a powder warehouse. Without the Taliban, the likelihood of such a situation is very small, at least in the short term. With the liberation of Afghanistan from terrorist occupation, the indigenous people of our land, as well as the peoples bordering our north, definitely do not want to have conflict and instability in the neighborhood, because it affects their lives. For the Taliban and terrorists, the main goal is to create chaos in the region. The region needs a regional security belt.
