Ahmad Massoud, leader of Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front, says Pakistan’s recent strikes in Afghanistan are the result of what he called the Taliban’s reckless policies and the group’s support for terrorist organisations.
Speaking on Friday at an event marking the 31st anniversary of the killing of Abdul Ali Mazari, the late leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, Massoud said the Taliban had turned Afghanistan into a stage for security and geopolitical rivalries.
He said that by providing sanctuary to groups such as Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Jaish al-Adl, Ansarullah and other militant organisations, the Taliban had created conditions that allowed such tensions to escalate.
Massoud, who took part in the meeting virtually, added that the Taliban’s attempt to mobilise people against Pakistan’s attacks could not lead to the defence of the country because the group lacked both domestic and international legitimacy and had excluded the public from the power structure.
Referring to recent developments, he stressed that any freedom in Afghanistan must be achieved by the people of the country themselves.
The National Resistance Front leader also warned against any deal or intervention under the current circumstances, saying freedom should come from the will of the Afghan people.
According to Massoud, any settlement reached without consulting the people would be wrong, and ignoring public opinion cannot resolve Afghanistan’s ongoing crises.
He also called on political leaders to use what he described as an opportunity for Afghanistan’s freedom, provided they act in a coordinated, organised and unified manner.
In another part of his remarks, Massoud expressed concern about the impact of conflicts in the Middle East on Afghanistan’s economy, saying the prices of essential goods were rising daily while people struggled with despair and uncertainty.
