National Resistance Front of Afghanistan

For the historical anti-Taliban military resistance, see Northern Alliance.

National Resistance Front of Afghanistan
جبههٔ مقاومت ملی (Dari)
د ملي مقاومت جبهه (Pashto)
LeaderAhmad Massoud
Foreign ministerAli Maisam Nazary[4]
SpokespersonMohammad Fahim Dashty †
Dates of operation17 August 2021 – present
HeadquartersTajikistan
Active regionsPanjshir, Parwan, Baghlan, Wardak, Daykundi, and Samangan provinces, Afghanistan
IdeologyDemocratism[5]
Decentralization[6]
Multiculturalism[6]
Social justice[6]
StatusActive
SizeUnknown[7]
Allies Afghanistan Freedom Front
 Tajikistan (alleged)[8][9]
Opponents Taliban
Battles and warsAfghan conflict

The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF),[1][10][11] also known as the Second Resistance,[12][13][14][15] is a military alliance of former Northern Alliance members and other anti-Taliban fighters loyal to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.[16] The founder and president of NRF is Ahmad Massoud. When the Taliban captured Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, former first vice president Amrullah Saleh, citing provisions of the 2004 Constitution, declared himself the caretaker president of Afghanistan and announced the republican resistance against the Taliban.[17][18][19] Saleh's claim to the presidency was endorsed by Ahmad Massoud,[20][19][16] as well as by former Afghan Minister of Defence Bismillah Mohammadi, and the Afghan embassy in Tajikistan including its ambassador Mohammad Zahir Aghbar.[20][19][16]

The NRF exercised de facto control over the Panjshir Valley, which is largely contiguous with Panjshir Province and, as of August 2021, was "the only region out of the Taliban's hands."[18][21] The alliance constitutes the only organized resistance to the Taliban in the country, and is possibly planning an anti-Taliban guerilla struggle.[16][22] The resistance has called for an "inclusive government" of Afghanistan;[20] one of their objectives is speculated to be a stake in the new Afghan government.[16] However, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban's leader, has effectively ruled out an inclusive government.[23]

On 6 September 2021, the Taliban claimed victory in controlling the province. The NRF, however, denied the Taliban victory, stating they continued to hold positions across the valley.[24] As of December 2022, the NRF controls no territory but continues to carry out hit and run guerrilla attacks.[25]

  1. ^ a b "The mujahideen resistance to the Taliban begins now. But we need help". Washington Post. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  2. ^ Roggio, Bill (18 August 2021). "After fall of Kabul, resistance to Taliban emerges in Panjshir". Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  3. ^ Filseth, Trevor (7 September 2021). "Panjshir Resistance: Heavy Fighting as Taliban Escalate Attacks". Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Afghanistan: The 'undefeated' Panjshir Valley - an hour from Kabul". BBC News. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. "The Red Army, with its might, was unable to defeat us... And the Taliban also 25 years ago... they tried to take over the valley and they failed, they faced a crushing defeat," Ali Nazary, the NRF's head of foreign relations, told the BBC.
  5. ^ Ali Maisam Nazary (19 August 2021). "What the Taliban Really Fear". Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Peter Bergen (1 September 2021). "The leader of the anti-Taliban resistance speaks out". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Do the Taliban Face Potent Armed Resistance in Afghanistan?". VOA. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Afghan resistance has sanctuary in Tajikistan, but fighting Taliban a 'non-viable prospect'". France24. 10 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan diverge on approaches to Afghanistan". eurasianet. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Afghan leader of Taliban resistance urges West to "supply us without delay"". Newsweek. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  11. ^ "National Resistance Front Of Afghanistan | The Irish Times". www.irishtimes.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Analysis Northern Afghanistan once kept out the Taliban. Why has it fallen so quickly this time?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Taliban promises not to move to Panshir; Ahmad Massoud says he is ready to give his blood for his land". asiaplustj.info. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Preparing for a Post-Departure Afghanistan: Changing political dynamics in the wake of the US troop withdrawal announcement". Afghanistan Analysts Network. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  15. ^ "He promised an "organized resistance" to Taliban rule. Now he wants U.S. help to lead the fight". www.cbsnews.com. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e Graham-Harrison, Emma (18 August 2021). "'Panjshir stands strong': Afghanistan's last holdout against the Taliban". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Afghan vice president says he is "caretaker" president". reuters.com. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  18. ^ a b "An anti-Taliban front forming in Panjshir? Ex top spy Saleh, son of 'Lion of Panjshir' meet at citadel". The Week. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  19. ^ a b c "Panjshir flies flag of resistance again; Amrullah says he is President of Afghanistan". Tribune India. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Kramer, Andrew E. (18 August 2021). "Leaders in Afghanistan's Panjshir Valley defy the Taliban and demand an inclusive government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 30 October 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  21. ^ Brick Murtazashvili, Jennifer (28 July 2021). "Northern Afghanistan once kept out the Taliban. Why has it fallen so quickly this time?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  22. ^ "The Panjshir Valley: what is the main bastion of resistance against the Taliban advance in Afghanistan". Market Research Telecast. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023.
  23. ^ Graham-Harrison, Emma (1 July 2022). "'It's our system': Taliban leader hits out at foreign demands on Afghan regime". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  24. ^ Robertson, Nic; Kohzad, Nilly; Lister, Tim; Regan, Helen (6 September 2021). "Taliban claims victory in Panjshir, but resistance forces say they still control strategic position in the valley". CNN. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  25. ^ Dawi, Akmal (20 December 2022). "Frustrated with the Taliban, US Officials Meet Anti-Taliban Figures". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2022. The NRF has executed hit-and-run attacks against the Taliban in some parts of Afghanistan but has not been able to hold territory.