Deep Sea
Lister
the eyes of the world now turn to 32-year-old Ahmad Massoud.
His father, Ahmad Shah Massoud, was an Afghan Hero who fought the Soviets and led the Northern Alliance that successfully removed the Taliban from power in the early 1990s. Referred to lovingly as the “Lion of Panjshir,” the Taliban sadly assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud two days before 9/11. He had warned the Americans weeks earlier that Al-Qaeda was planning an attack on US soil. They ignored him.
So why is his son critical to the future of Afghanistan?
First, he has a loyal following across the country because Afghans respect his father. A few days ago, he narrowly escaped a suicide bombing in Kabul that targeted a meeting with the Defense Minister. This 32-year-old is the Taliban’s enemy number one right now.
Secondly, he has not forgiven the Taliban for killing his father. He was only 10 when the old man died. Panjshir, where he leads a militia of close to 3,000 people willing to die for him, is now the only province NOT under Taliban control. Earlier this year, he sent an urgent plea to the Biden Administration to arm local militias because he knew the Afghan government would fall as soon as the Americans left. They did not listen to him.
Third, he has a UK education, thus holds Western values. Panjshir is the only province in Afghanistan where women are not required to cover their hair in public. In other words, he clashes ideologically with the Taliban.
We wait to see what the next few months will hold for the future of Afghanistan. If they do not kill him, and with proper backing from the West, this is the man to drive the Taliban back to their caves.
Look him up on YouTube. Very brilliant and charismatic!
His father, Ahmad Shah Massoud, was an Afghan Hero who fought the Soviets and led the Northern Alliance that successfully removed the Taliban from power in the early 1990s. Referred to lovingly as the “Lion of Panjshir,” the Taliban sadly assassinated Ahmad Shah Massoud two days before 9/11. He had warned the Americans weeks earlier that Al-Qaeda was planning an attack on US soil. They ignored him.
So why is his son critical to the future of Afghanistan?
First, he has a loyal following across the country because Afghans respect his father. A few days ago, he narrowly escaped a suicide bombing in Kabul that targeted a meeting with the Defense Minister. This 32-year-old is the Taliban’s enemy number one right now.
Secondly, he has not forgiven the Taliban for killing his father. He was only 10 when the old man died. Panjshir, where he leads a militia of close to 3,000 people willing to die for him, is now the only province NOT under Taliban control. Earlier this year, he sent an urgent plea to the Biden Administration to arm local militias because he knew the Afghan government would fall as soon as the Americans left. They did not listen to him.
Third, he has a UK education, thus holds Western values. Panjshir is the only province in Afghanistan where women are not required to cover their hair in public. In other words, he clashes ideologically with the Taliban.
We wait to see what the next few months will hold for the future of Afghanistan. If they do not kill him, and with proper backing from the West, this is the man to drive the Taliban back to their caves.
Look him up on YouTube. Very brilliant and charismatic!
