Éric Ciotti, President of France’s right-wing party The Republicans and a senior member of the National Assembly, reaffirmed his party’s unwavering support for Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF), during a significant meeting in Paris this week underscoring growing French political solidarity with Afghan democratic resistance against Taliban rule.
Massoud was in Paris to attend a high-level conference hosted by the Collège des Bernardins on June 12. On the sidelines of the event, he met with several French political figures, including Ciotti, who hailed him as “a symbol of the struggle for civilisation, freedom, and democracy against the Taliban and Islamist extremism.”
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) following the meeting, Ciotti stated: “Ahmad Massoud can always count on our support,” asserting that the struggle of the NRF reflects the values championed by The Republicans. The meeting also highlighted the deep historical connection between France and the Massoud family. Ahmad Massoud’s father, the late Ahmad Shah Massoud—celebrated as the ‘Lion of Panjshir’—was a legendary anti-Taliban commander and a close ally of France. His legacy continues to shape Franco-Afghan relations, with the younger Massoud maintaining close ties with French leaders. He has made multiple visits to France and was previously received as a guest of honour by President Emmanuel Macron.
As head of the NRF, Massoud has emerged as a prominent voice of resistance against Taliban authoritarianism, calling for a democratic and inclusive future for Afghanistan. His stance has earned broad support from Western leaders, rights advocates, and defenders of international law and democratic norms.
Ciotti’s vocal backing during the Paris meeting adds to the momentum behind the NRF’s international advocacy, reinforcing France’s role as a key supporter of Afghan aspirations for freedom, dignity, and national sovereignty.
