Vienna, April 26, 2023 - Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF) that leads the armed resistance against the Taliban in Afghanistan, addressed a press conference on the final day of the Vienna Conference on Afghanistan. He spoke out against the Taliban's brutal tactics and the hypocrisy of the international community towards the resistance. This is the second time Ahmad Massoud has attended the Vienna Conference, which provides a platform for anti-Taliban politicians and stakeholders to discuss and develop a path forward for Afghanistan.

During the press conference, Ahmad Massoud described the recent announcement of the killing of the alleged mastermind behind the Kabul airport terrorist attack in August 2021 as a "tactical move" intended to influence global opinion and impact the upcoming secret Doha meeting. He also noted that both the Taliban and ISIS use similar tactics and commit the same atrocities; their ideologies are fundamentally the same, and they are essentially two sides of the same coin.

Ahmad Massoud further explained that the NRF was formed in response to the brutality of the Taliban. Their acts of war left them with no choice but to defend their people. Similar to the people of Kobani who stood up against ISIS, they are also standing up against the Taliban, who are committing identical atrocities. "We were faced with two options: engage in a disastrous war based on our principles and values, or surrender everything and become prisoners to the Taliban, losing all of our principles. We chose to live by our principles, even if it meant a shorter life, because it was better than living under the tyranny and authoritarian regime of the Taliban. Yes, we are alone, but we are relying on God and our people," said Ahmad Massoud.

In his speech, Ahmad Massoud also stated that recognizing the Taliban would be the final nail in the coffin of the people of Afghanistan, Afghanistan itself, democracy, and any hope. He further called out the hypocrisy of the international community towards the resistance, stating that while they had received no help, they also faced hypocrisy, that they do not support an armed resistance - that it was acceptable until they were there, but after that, they do not support it. "This is the decision of the people of Afghanistan to defend themselves against tyranny," said Ahmad Massoud.

The press conference came at the end of the Vienna Conference, which marks a crucial step towards addressing the challenges faced by Afghanistan and building a democratic, just, and equitable society where all people have a say in their own destiny. The conference issued a joint statement, which will be released soon.