Kabul: Ahmad Massoud, head of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), in the Panjshir valley north of Kabul said on Sunday he welcomed proposals from religious scholars for a negotiated settlement to end the fighting amid reports that group’s spokesman, Fahim Dashti, had been killed during the day.
Dashti had survived the suicide attack that killed Massoud’s father, Ahmad Shah Massoud, on Sept. 9, 2001, just days before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Few other commanders Gul Haider Khan, Munib Amiri and General Wadud Zara a nephew of Ahmad Shah Massoud were also among those killed.
He had been one of the main sources of updates from the area as the Taliban pressed in on opposition forces, issuing a defiant series of statements on Twitter, vowing that resistance would continue.
NRF claimed that Panjshir was bombed by Pakistan Air Force drones using smart bombs a day after ISI honcho General Faiz Hamid arrived in Kabul. It said Pakistani special forces familiar with Panjshir lands having a map of the area,attacked the strongholds from the air. UK-based militancy expert Faran Jeffery alias Natsecjeff said accusing PAF was a desperate attempt at face saving because the “West-created myths in Afghanistan are collapsing”. He added, “The claim comes from one former MP. Then quickly circulated by pro-NRF accounts (most of which are being run by Indian IT cell) and by some other usual suspects.”
Massoud, who leads a force made up of remnants of regular Afghan army and special forces units as well as local militia fighters, called for a negotiated settlement with the Taliban before the fighting broke out around a week ago.
Several attempts at talks were held but eventually broke down, with each side blaming the other for their failure.