Break the Silence - Misinformation and Terror in Afghanistan
June 22, 2023 - Amid the mayhem that Afghanistan is currently submerged in, there’s a beacon of hope, and its name is the National Resistance Front, also known as the NRF. Guided by Ahmad Massoud, the NRF's resistance grants hope and inspiration, defying the tumultuous vortex of conflict ravaging Afghanistan. Despite the ground realities, some voices attempt to paint the NRF as an ethnic faction. But that’s an outright fallacy.
The NRF is fundamentally an ideologically driven mission, fueled by a shared commitment to unity, human rights, social justice, and democracy. They are a group forged by diverse members of Afghanistan's former national defense and security forces, men and women willing to stake their lives for their homeland. This undeniable reality shatters any assertion that the NRF is a mere ethnic movement. Instead, it encapsulates the full range of Afghanistan’s diverse society.
Here’s where things take an interesting turn. As the Taliban continues its relentless efforts to forcibly displace the indigenous population of Northern Afghanistan and occupy their homes – a blatant crime against humanity – the deafening silence of some self-proclaimed champions of unity is telling. One can’t help but ask - where are these detractors when such atrocities are being committed?
The answer is embedded in the paradox of silence. Interestingly, these very critics opt to maintain silence on the persistent humanitarian crisis in Northern Afghanistan while spreading misinformation about the NRF. The evidence of double standards couldn't be more pronounced.
In stark contrast to this deafening silence, stands a man of action: Ahmad Massoud. This leader of distinction does not indulge in the luxury of inaction while waiting for unity to magically materialize. He rolls up his sleeves, actively dispelling misinformation, doing his part and more to foster unity as the leader of this noble resistance. His actions epitomize the NRF's ideology—an ideology that translates into action rather than empty promises.
Let's talk about the atrocities committed by the Taliban and the deafening silence that follows. Reports surfaced on June 4th, suggesting that the Taliban intends to establish settlements for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in Northern Afghanistan. This move exponentially escalates security issues, divisions, and sparks social and political instability in Afghanistan and the wider region. Yet, the silence from the detractors is resounding.
On the same day this deal with the Taliban’s masters was made, Amnesty International released a comprehensive report on the Taliban's war crimes in Panjshir province, painting a grim picture of widespread suffering and fear. It listed extensive war crimes by the Taliban, including extrajudicial executions, torture, hostage-taking, unlawful detention, and arson of civilian homes. Each act in itself is horrifying, and in sum, these actions amount to collective punishment, a war crime in its own right. And yet, the detractors remain silent.
As the Taliban's brutality increases, the NRF’s credibility is concurrently reinforced. On June 16th, Luke Coffey from the Hudson Institute echoed similar sentiments, arguing that as the Taliban's atrocities rise, the NRF will likely grow in size and popularity. He called on the international community to identify and collaborate with non-extremist groups like the NRF that are willing to combat terrorism within Afghanistan.
So let's step back and look at this. Often, those who peddle contrary narratives cloak themselves as human rights defenders, social activists, or “experts”. However, it's all smoke and mirrors. Just propaganda. Nevertheless, the truth about the NRF remains unyielding. This movement, founded on unity, resistance, and the will to safeguard their homeland while the traitor President Ghani and his minions fled from his republic, the NRF stands strong. The NRF's struggle against the Taliban and other terrorist factions for nearly two years now, devoid of international community support, is a testament to their steadfastness. It's high time that the international community aligned with them against humanity's shared foes.
But the situation is more complex than that. It's like an iceberg, right? Everyone's seen the diagrams. Tiny little peak above the water and a massive, complex structure beneath. You know, and I know, the real action is underwater, lurking in the depths. But who has the time, or frankly the courage, to take a deep dive?
You see, some of the aforementioned individuals, the self-proclaimed do-gooders, the international heavyweights, they're banking on this illusion. They're hoping you’re so focused on that peak — the horrific plight of women under Taliban rule — that you'll forget about the colossal mess underneath. Why? Because it's an excellent smokescreen for their backroom deals and hushed agreements, their “silent legitimacies” with the Taliban.
But what about the Taliban? Oh, they're just the gift that keeps on giving. Despite promises they made at the Doha Agreement, they've been on a killing spree, targeting Afghanistan’s former National Defense and Security Forces. They're expanding suicide bomber units, working with terror groups, and that's not all. Ethnic groups like the Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Hazaras are being forced out of their homes ever since the fall of Kabul. Humanitarian aid is being used as a bargaining chip. The law of the land is the law of the gun in Panjshir. Narcotics? Business is booming. But all you'll hear about for the foreseeable future is the gender apartheid issue. Convenient, isn't it?
Yes, "the Taliban's systematic prosecution of women knows no ethnicity." It's horrendous, a human rights nightmare. But we shouldn't let that single narrative divert us from the big picture. The recognition of crimes against humanity and gender apartheid by the UN is a win, but the rest of the iceberg is still there. Let's not let a single narrative sideline the multi-dimensional struggle of Afghanistan's people.
Then we've got people like Graeme Smith from the Crisis Group. He's all about the humanitarian aid, also only smoke and mirrors. The solution he's trying to bury? Paving the pathway for Taliban recognition. And if the rumors about his appointment at UNAMA are true, then the UN might as well wave goodbye to impartiality. Smith's sugar-coated words can't hide the stifling reality for women and girls in Afghanistan. While the world hollers against gender apartheid, we're asking for a UN free of Taliban apologists. Is that too much?
Let's take a moment to address one more fallacy that's been thrown around - this notion that “war is not the answer”. Now isn't that an overly simplistic way to look at an incredibly complex situation? The truth is, this madness that's descended upon us in 2021 didn't just pop out of thin air. Just because Biden and Ghani decided to throw in the towel doesn't mean the war on terror in Afghanistan ended. It didn't. The Taliban's reign of terror, as has been laid out for you, is alive and well. And while the Biden administration have been busy abandoning their allies, it doesn't give them, or anyone else for that matter, the right to dictate the fate of the people of Afghanistan. No one has the right to tell them to just sit back and accept an occupation, or to settle for anything less than what they'd want for their own nation.
Ahmad Massoud and the NRF are the real deal. They've been fighting tooth and nail against the Taliban's reign of terror, advocating for justice and equal rights for all, regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity. This isn't some abstract concept for them - they're putting these values into practice on the ground. It's not just men, either. The women of Afghanistan were the first to answer Massoud's call for an uprising back in 2021. Mainstream media won't tell you that, but it's the truth.
It's time to break the silence. The truth is clear: the NRF transcends labels—it serves as the sole beacon of hope for a unified Afghanistan, a champion of human rights, and a steadfast bulwark against terrorism. The global focus on some very specific atrocities committed by the Taliban is just the visible peaks of the iceberg - the unaddressed and largely unseen horror: the Taliban occupation of Afghanistan is the whole damn iceberg. That's the conversation we need to have.
