Two Afghan Resistance Commanders Appear In New Photos, Claim Presence In Mountains

Two prominent commanders of the National Resistance Front (NRF), Khalid Amiri and Hasib Panjshiri, have appeared in newly released images on social media, reportedly taken in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan.

The photos show both commanders in full military uniform and equipped with combat gear. At least two NRF sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that the images are recent and that the commanders are currently active within Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain.

In a video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Hasib Panjshiri declared, “Our country is under the occupation of terrorist Taliban forces.” He added, “We are fighting to reclaim and liberate our land and geography from the grip of this criminal group, and we have full faith in victory.”

The appearance of the two commanders comes just one day after it was reported that NRF leader Ahmad Massoud travelled to Mashhad, Iran. According to sources, the Islamic Republic of Iran hosted a gathering of Afghan political figures, including Atta Mohammad Noor. The sources stated that Massoud was received by Iranian officials and held meetings with representatives from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Khalid Amiri is a senior NRF commander who played a key role in organising and leading resistance operations against the Taliban following the fall of Kabul in August 2021. A former elite officer in the Afghan National Army, Amiri moved to Panjshir shortly after the Taliban takeover and led intense combat missions in the region.

In June 2022, Amiri shared an image of a downed Taliban helicopter in the Hindu Kush mountains, a symbolic act of defiance. He also released videos showing captured Taliban fighters, whom he later reportedly released.

Before the Taliban’s return to power, Amiri served as a commander of special forces in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and received military training both domestically and abroad.

Hasib Panjshiri, widely known as “Hasib Qowaye Markaz”, is another key NRF commander under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud. After completing military training, Hasib joined Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) special units and participated in numerous operations across the country. Following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul, he returned to his native Panjshir and continued the armed resistance.