Killing of AFF Fighters Garners Public Support for War Against Taliban, Says NRF Member

had begun to circulate. Some voices propagated the notion that the resistance had waned and lost its momentum, with no significant presence on the ground to effectively challenge the Taliban's military dominance. Regrettably, the Taliban seized this opportunity to sow their deceitful seeds among the people, capitalising on the lack of unity and consensus within the anti-Taliban fronts.

However, the events that transpired on the fateful day of April 10th shattered these misconceptions, revealing the unwavering strength and indomitable spirit of the anti-Taliban resistance. Commander Akmal Amir, accompanied by 11 of his valiant comrades, engaged in a fierce and protracted battle against the Taliban’s defence ministry special forces, consisting of 190 soldiers. The clash raged for hours, with both sides fiercely contesting the field of battle.

The outcome of this momentous encounter bore witness to the tenacity and proficiency of the resistance forces, who largely comprise former members of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF). Nearly thirty Taliban militants met their fate in the face of the resistance's resolute defence, while six brave resistance fighters fell in the line of duty. Despite the loss of lives, the aftermath of this clash was telling: the people spoke with a unanimous voice of their unwavering support to the anti-Taliban resistance, transcending the divides of ethnicity, race, and gender.

This resounding support for the resistance underscored the imperative of preserving the unified voice against the tyrannical regime of the Taliban. It served as a poignant reminder that the resistance, far from being diminished, remained steadfast in its unwavering determination to confront and challenge the oppressive rule of the Taliban. It also emphasised on the critical need to comprehend the intricacies of insurgencies and liberation movements, where periods of relatively low military operations do not equate to the demise of the resistance. The indomitable spirit of the resistance forces, fortified by their unwavering resolve, shall never waver or falter.

As human beings, it is our responsibility to stand resolutely with the resistance at all times, upholding the truth and unwaveringly supporting the cause of freedom, justice, and dignity. Shifting loyalties based on temporary circumstances is untenable; the strength of our convictions and the pursuit of truth must remain unwavering in the face of adversity.

In essence, the recent clash between Commander Amir and the Taliban exemplifies the unyielding resilience of the anti-Taliban resistance. The unity and unwavering support of the people, irrespective of differences, accentuates the pressing need to stand firmly with the resistance and uphold the truth in the face of the Taliban's reign of terror. The anti-Taliban resistance, fuelled by their unwavering determination and resolute spirit, continues to be a beacon of hope in the fight against oppression, tyranny, and injustice.

The Taliban’s foreign minister said that the group will not allow Afghanistan to become the hub for "negative and illegitimate" competition.

The fourth meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries was held on Thursday in Samarkand.

The foreign minister of the Taliban had been absent at the start and end of the meeting of neighbouring countries of Afghanistan.

Muttaqi claimed that Afghanistan has witnessed "positive developments" with the Taliban's takeover of the country. He stated that the country has a "strong central government, the rule of law and order, and security”.

He emphasised that the Taliban has eradicated corruption and claimed that access to judicial institutions has been provided and drug cultivation and trafficking have been banned.

Contrary to the Taliban foreign minister’s claims, the officials of foreign countries and human rights organisations said that the Taliban destroyed the rule of law, and Afghanistan has witnessed a dramatic increase in drug trafficking.

The foreign minister of the Taliban emphasised that the group will not allow the use of Afghan soil against the countries of the region and the world.

On Friday, members of the Commonwealth of Independent States stressed that terrorist infiltration inside the borders of the Commonwealth of Nations is more in sight than ever.

Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov said that the Commonwealth of Nations has “important tasks ahead and we can achieve our goals by coordinating our actions”.

Earlier in their last meeting, members of the Commonwealth of Independent States had warned that Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) forces had increased in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the officials of neighbouring countries of Afghanistan including China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, too, expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

The joint statement of these countries emphasised that all terrorist groups, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundallah, Jaish al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and other terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

The Samarkand Declaration has been released after the foreign ministers and senior officials of China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan met on April 13 in Uzbekistan.

They reaffirmed the commitment to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, sovereign, and independent state, free from the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.

The countries said that all terrorist groups, namely the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Jundallah, Jaish al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), and other terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

However, they also mentioned that all neighbours would work together for a counter-terrorism strategy.

The issue of drug menace had also been discussed and called for support for the development of drug crop substitution programs, as well as for combating drug production and trafficking.

The foreign ministers of the participant countries also stressed on the need for the international community to maintain dialogue and communication with Afghanistan and called for further measures to improve the living conditions of the people.

While expressing concern about the humanitarian situation and the poor economic situation in the country, the countries said that they would provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and support the economic reconstruction of Afghanistan.

They also stressed on the importance of cooperation on major international energy, transport, communication, infrastructure, and other projects implemented by neighbouring countries for socio-economic development of Afghanistan.

Speaking during the Samarkand meeting, she expressed concerns about signs of decline in the international humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and urged the international community to reconsider their approach towards Afghanistan and the Taliban.

The MoS stressed that the ban on the right to work and education of Afghan women has created a deadlock in the Taliban’s relations with the world. She expressed regrets about the recent Taliban’s decisions, however, she asked western countries not to forget Afghanistan.

Western countries and the Taliban accuse one another of violating the commitments that led to the Doha Agreement.

While the Western countries want the Taliban to form an inclusive government and observe human rights, the Taliban, demands international recognition and the lifting of economic sanctions.

Although Pakistan has close relations with the Taliban, the Pakistan deputy foreign minister said that Pakistan and other neighbouring countries are facing the threat of terrorism from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.