Ahmad Massoud Explained

Ahmad Massoud
Birth Date:10 July 1989
Birth Place:Warsaj District, Takhar Province, Afghanistan
Father:Ahmad Shah Massoud
Alma Mater:King's College London
City, University of London
Office:Leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan
Term Start:17 August 2021
Serviceyears:2019–present
Rank:Supreme leader
Commands:National Resistance Front
Battles:Republican insurgency

Ahmad Massoud (Pashto/, pronounced as /prs/; born July 10, 1989) is an Afghan politician who is the founder and leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan. He is the eldest son of anti-Soviet military leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. He was appointed as the CEO of Massoud Foundation in November 2016.[1] On 5 September 2019, he was declared his father's successor at his mausoleum in the Panjshir Valley.[2] As a result, he has sometimes been referred to as "The Young Lion of Panjshir". After the Taliban seized control of Panjshir Valley on 6 September 2021, Massoud fled to Tajikistan along with former Vice President Amrullah Saleh.[3]

Early life and education

Ahmad Massoud was born into a Tajik family in 1989.[4] He is the only son and the oldest of Ahmad Shah Massoud's six children.[5]

After attending high school in Iran, Massoud trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[6] [7] In 2012, he commenced an undergraduate degree in war studies at King's College London, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in 2015. He obtained his master's degree in international politics from City, University of London in 2016.[8] [9] [10] His undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation topics were the Taliban.[11]

Career

Massoud returned to Afghanistan and was appointed CEO of the Massoud Foundation in 2016.[5] [12]

Since March 2019, Massoud has officially entered politics, a widely anticipated move for one referred to in Panjshir as the "predestined."[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] He has endorsed his father's idea of a Swiss model for internal power relations in Afghanistan, saying that the decentralization of government and the de-concentration of power from Kabul would give a more efficient allocation of resources and authority to provinces in the country, thereby bringing prosperity and stability to the country as a whole.[18] [19] [20]

Massoud objected to the direction of the Afghan peace process in 2019, which he believed did not represent the interests of all Afghans. In September of that year, he announced the creation of a new coalition of mujahideen leaders modeled on the Northern Alliance that had resisted the Taliban in the 1990s.[21] The coalition, known as the Second Resistance or National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, became one of several independent military forces built up ahead of the United States military withdrawal.[22] [23] After most of the country surrendered to the Taliban during its 2021 offensive, Massoud and former Vice President Amrullah Saleh met in Panjshir and declared their rejection of Taliban rule. Massoud appealed in the American press for military and logistical support for his forces. Among other reasons, he listed the need to protect women's rights, prevent public executions, and avoid the return of a safe haven in Afghanistan for international terrorists.[24]

On 22 August 2021, he warned of a potential civil war if a power-sharing agreement was not reached and said that war was "unavoidable" under those circumstances, saying "We defeated the Soviet Union, we can defeat the Taliban".[25] He has founded the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) which has thousands of fighters. Massoud has asked the U.S., France and others in Europe and the Arab world to support the NRF.[26] He has also stated his desire to negotiate with the Taliban, but that if talks fail he is ready for a military confrontation.[27]

On 6 September 2021, with the Taliban taking control of the Panjshir Valley, Massoud moved to an unknown location and said the resistance will continue.[28] [29] [30] On 9 September, Massoud's spokesman Ali Maisam Nazary stated that both Massoud and acting Islamic Republic of Afghanistan President Amrullah Saleh were "safe" and still in Afghanistan.[31] Nazary also disputed reports that the Taliban had full control of the Province, stating that 60% was still under National Resistance Front control, and stated that NRF forces made a "tactical withdrawal" from some areas.[32] On 8 September French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy shared a photo of himself talking to Massoud in Panjshir in 2020 on his Twitter page and also disputed the reports of the Taliban taking full control of the province.

Publications and recordings

Books

Articles

Recordings

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: February 24, 2014. گفت و گو با فرزند احمدشاه مسعود؛ "عملیات ما برای ادبیات‌مان است". live. www.teribon.ir. https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213128/https://www.teribon.ir/archives/254695/%da%af%d9%81%d8%aa-%d9%88-%da%af%d9%88-%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d9%81%d8%b1%d8%b2%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%87-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%b9%d9%88%d8%af%d8%9b-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%84%db%8c%d8%a7 . 31 July 2018 .
  2. Web site: Ahmad Massoud Declared As His Father's Successor. TOLOnews. 13 April 2020. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826045038/https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/ahmad-massoud-declared-his-father%E2%80%99s-successor. live.
  3. Web site: Cole . Matthew . Klippenstein . Ken . 22 September 2021 . Afghan Resistance Leaders, Long Backed By CIA, Have Fled Following Taliban Takeover . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210921220933/https://theintercept.com/2021/09/21/afghanistan-taliban-ahmad-massoud-flee/ . 21 September 2021 . . en.
  4. He was mentioned as 27 years old in Web site: fr. Ahmad Massoud, l'héritier du lion. Ahmad Massoud, the Heir of the Lion. September 9, 2016. 23 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819173210/https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/86bf790d-60ee-4096-824a-aaf11b8bfbd7__7C___0.html. live.
  5. Web site: 'My father was the first to negotiate with the Taliban'. June 3, 2019. TRT World. 13 April 2020. 21 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210821043616/https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/my-father-was-the-first-to-negotiate-with-the-taliban-26690. live.
  6. Web site: 6 September 2019. Son of slain Afghan resistance hero Ahmad Shah Massoud enters political fray. live. www.rfi.fr. https://web.archive.org/web/20200318051304/http://www.rfi.fr/en/asia-pacific/20190906-ahmad-massoud-son-slain-afghan-resistance-hero-joins-political-fray . 18 March 2020 .
  7. Web site: Ahmad Massoud (1943-2014) .
  8. Web site: Son of famed Afghan commander Massoud steps into spotlight. August 28, 2019. The Straits Times. 14 April 2020. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819230453/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/son-of-famed-afghan-commander-massoud-steps-into-spotlight. live.
  9. Web site: Anne Chaon . Lion of Panjshir's son ready to take up his Afghan destiny . Yahoo.com . 2016-09-01 . 2016-11-28 . 17 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210817182041/https://www.yahoo.com/news/lion-panjshirs-son-ready-afghan-destiny-084626766.html . dead .
  10. Web site: AFP . Lion of Panjshir: Ahmad Shah Masood's son ready to take up his Afghan destiny – The Express Tribune . Tribune.com.pk . 2016-09-01 . 2016-11-28 . 22 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210822201551/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1174017/lion-panjshir-ahmad-shah-masoods-son-ready-take-afghan-destiny . live .
  11. Web site: Meeting Ahmad Massoud, the Sandhurst graduate taking on the Taliban . Casey . John . The Spectator . limited . 28 August 2021 . 27 August 2021 . 27 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210827143048/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/meeting-ahmad-massoud-the-sandhurst-graduate-taking-on-the-taliban . live .
  12. Book: Malejacq, Romain. Warlord Survival: The Delusion of State Building in Afghanistan. January 15, 2020. Cornell University Press. 9781501746437. Google Books. 1 October 2020. 9 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230409222148/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bb2tDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Ahmad+Massoud%22&pg=PA166. live.
  13. News: The Return of the Lion of Panjshir. Fausto. Biloslavo. InsideOver. 20 August 2021. 20 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210820203306/https://www.insideover.com/reportage/politics/the-return-of-the-lion-of-panjshir.html. live.
  14. News: Heir to Lion of Panjshir returns to reunite his father's followers. www.thetimes.co.uk. 13 April 2020. 2 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902222941/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/heir-to-lion-of-panjshir-returns-to-reunite-his-fathers-followers-tfw3nx8qm. live.
  15. Web site: Afghanistan: Ahmad Massoud seizes father's torch. Alison Tahmizian. Meuse. September 5, 2019. Asia Times. 13 April 2020. 22 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822100851/https://asiatimes.com/2019/09/afghanistan-ahmad-massoud-seizes-fathers-torch/. live.
  16. Web site: Taliban seeks to share power in Afghanistan's government, but will ethnic groups approve?. December 14, 2019. PBS NewsHour. 13 April 2020. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819065026/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/taliban-seeks-to-share-power-in-afghanistans-government-but-will-ethnic-groups-approve. live.
  17. Web site: Glasse . Jennifer . Son of famed Afghan resistance fighter launches new political movement . CBC . September 11, 2019 . 13 April 2020 . 17 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210817194942/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/afghanistan-new-political-movement-ahmad-massoud-1.5276055 . live .
  18. Web site: 3 July 2020. Ahmad Massoud: Decentralization is the Solution. live. www.thenationalnews.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116211529/https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/ahmad-massoud-decentralisation-is-the-solution-son-of-afghan-national-hero-says-1.1043346 . 16 November 2020 .
  19. News: What Is Missing From Afghan Peace Talks. New York Times. 14 April 2020 . live. 29 March 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819061817/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/afghanistan-peace-talks.html . Massoud . Ahmad .
  20. News: Son of slain Afghan commander Massoud warns of 'civil war' if US troops leave hastily. www.france24.com. live. 29 March 2021. 20 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210820221032/https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-interview/20210324-son-of-slain-afghan-commander-massoud-warns-of-civil-war-if-us-troops-leave-hastily.
  21. News: Glasse. Jennifer. Son of famed Afghan resistance fighter launches new political movement. September 11, 2019. CBC News. 2021-08-18. 17 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210817194942/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/afghanistan-new-political-movement-ahmad-massoud-1.5276055. live.
  22. News: Zucchino. David. Fazi. Fatima. Attacked and Vulnerable, Some Afghans Are Forming Their Own Armies. June 24, 2021. The New York Times. 2021-08-17. 2 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902210404/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/world/asia/vulnerable-afghans-forming-militias.html. live.
  23. Web site: Behzan. Frud. 2021-08-12. Radio Azadi. Afghanistan's Anti-Taliban Stronghold Gears Up For New Fight Against Militants. live. 2021-08-17. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210812161228/https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/panjshir-valley-taliban-afghanistan/31407634.html . 12 August 2021 .
  24. Web site: Massoud. Ahmad. August 18, 2021. Opinion: The mujahideen resistance to the Taliban begins now. But we need help.. live. www.washingtonpost.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818154543/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/18/mujahideen-resistance-taliban-ahmad-massoud/ . 18 August 2021 .
  25. News: Beaumont . Peter . Afghan civil war 'unavoidable' if Taliban refuse talks, says opposition leader . 22 August 2021 . . 22 August 2021 . 30 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210830230006/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/22/taliban-seek-to-assert-control-around-kabul-airport-as-death-toll-rises . live .
  26. News: Who is Ahmad Massoud, the man building an anti-Taliban resistance in Afghanistan? . https://web.archive.org/web/20210826171939/https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/ahmad-massoud-nrf-taliban-afghanistan-b1909341.html . 2021-08-26 . limited . live . Duncan . Conrad . The Independent . 26 August 2021 . 27 August 2021.
  27. Web site: Mackenzie. James. 2021-08-22. Anti-Taliban leader Massoud wants to talk but ready to fight. live. 2021-08-22. Reuters. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210822163740/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/anti-taliban-leader-massoud-says-negotiation-only-way-forward-2021-08-22/ . 22 August 2021 .
  28. News: Pannett . Rachel . Panjshir Valley, last resistance holdout in Afghanistan, falls to the Taliban . . 6 September 2021 . 6 September 2021 . 18 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211018221123/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/09/06/afghanistan-kabul-taliban-updates/ . live .
  29. Web site: Afghanistan: Ahmad Massoud says he is alive and resistance will continue | Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management. Indiablooms.com. 6 September 2021. 6 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210906120829/https://www.indiablooms.com/world-details/SA/31147/afghanistan-ahmad-massoud-says-he-is-alive-and-resistance-will-continue.html. live.
  30. Web site: Explainer: Panjshir – Afghanistan’s valley of resistance . 2024-06-09 . Al Jazeera . en.
  31. News: Ahmad Massoud, Saleh safe, Panjshir hasn't fallen: NRF says Taliban will suffer consequences:Exclusive. Geeta. Mohan. India Today. 9 September 2021. 9 September 2021. 9 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909100811/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/nrf-taliban-ahmad-massoud-amrullah-saleh-safe-panjshir-afghanistan-1850853-2021-09-09. live.
  32. News: NRF says 60 percent of Afghanistan's Panjshir still under control, Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh alive. First Post. 9 September 2021. 9 September 2021. 9 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909143537/https://www.firstpost.com/world/nrf-says-60-percent-of-afghanistans-panjshir-still-under-control-ahmad-massoud-and-amrullah-saleh-alive-9950481.html. live.

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