Afghan political leaders marked the 24th anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s assassination on Tuesday with a virtual memorial event, using the occasion to issue stark warnings about internal divisions weakening resistance efforts against the Taliban.
Ahmad Massoud, son of the late commander and head of the National Resistance Front (NRF), cautioned that infighting among anti-Taliban factions could sabotage the broader struggle for freedom.
“When opposition groups turn against one another, the Taliban wins,” said Massoud. He emphasized the importance of waging not just a physical war, but also a “battle of narratives” to counter Taliban propaganda, which he accused of deliberately stoking divisions within the resistance.
Reaffirming his commitment to the cause, Massoud declared, “We will not accept defeat or surrender. No tyranny lasts forever, and the Taliban’s brutality will fall, too.”
Also speaking at the event, veteran political and military leader Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, head of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, vowed to continue the fight.
“To die in bed is a disgrace for me,” Dostum said, adding that tyranny will eventually succumb to the will of the Afghan people.
Other prominent figures echoed similar concerns. Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the People’s Islamic Unity Party, urged unity among opposition groups and called on them to set aside differences for the greater national interest.
Former Vice President Sarwar Danish stressed the need for a long-term vision, warning that failure to learn from past mistakes could plunge the country into chaos once again, much like the post-Mujahideen era following the 2001 Bonn Conference.
Former Interior Minister Mohammad Omar Daudzai highlighted the enduring symbolic power of Ahmad Shah Massoud, noting that his legitimacy and stature have only grown over time. He also took aim at Taliban supporters, accusing them of violating Afghan cultural norms with abusive online rhetoric targeting opposition figures.
The event served both as a tribute to one of Afghanistan’s most iconic resistance leaders and as a call for unity in the face of an increasingly entrenched Taliban regime.
