Afghanistan Resistance Council Marks Massoud Anniversary, Calls for Unity

DID Press: National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan issued a statement on 24th anniversary of the assassination of national hero Ahmad Shah Massoud and the start of Martyrs’ Week, stressing commitment to the path of the fallen, national unity, and the struggle for freedom, social justice, and the country’s independence.

The council called on all pro-freedom forces, intellectuals, youth, and women to stand in solidarity against tyranny and extremism.

In its message, the council described Massoud as a great commander, a rare strategist, and a conscious statesman whose vision was rooted in freedom, social justice, national sovereignty, and human dignity. It recalled his defense of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and national identity during the jihad against the Soviet army and his resistance to the Taliban, as well as his consistent emphasis on a just peace, national unity, women’s rights, and their role in reconstruction and progress.

The statement underlined that Massoud’s political and social thought was based on dialogue, participation, and equitable coexistence. He repeatedly stressed that Afghanistan can only achieve stability and development if all ethnic and social groups live together in an atmosphere of trust, equality, and mutual respect.

Highlighting women’s role in society, politics, and culture, the council quoted Massoud’s belief that denying women their human and social rights is not only a betrayal of half the population, but also a major obstacle to Afghanistan’s development.

The message also pointed to Massoud’s diplomatic efforts to gain international support against terrorism and described his close ties with late Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani as a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s jihad and resistance.