Afghanistan Political Fronts Vow to Continue Fight for Change in Taliban Rule
DID Press: As Afghanistan marks the fifth anniversary of the fall of the republic and the Taliban’s return to power, the Afghanistan Freedom Front, Jamiat-e Islami and officials from the National Resistance Front have, in separate statements and remarks, described the Taliban government as “illegitimate” and vowed to continue efforts to establish a political system based on the people’s vote.
The Afghanistan Freedom Front said in a statement marking August 15 that despite the Taliban’s complete control over the country, the group has failed to transform its “rule imposed by force” into a legitimate and sustainable political order. The front said Afghanistan still lacks a constitution, elections and a legitimate mechanism for the transfer of power, while political decision-making remains concentrated in the hands of a limited circle. It also condemned the exclusion of women from education and employment as an “official Taliban policy,” stressing that the rights of women and girls should not be subject to political bargaining.
Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan, led by Salahuddin Rabbani, said in a statement that the fall of the republic was the result of the previous government’s “incompetence and monopolization of power,” as well as “regional and international conspiracies.” The party claimed that Afghanistan has faced “dangerous deterioration” over the past five years, with women excluded from social life, the rule of law dismantled, and the Taliban expanding authoritarian rule through the alleged misappropriation of international aid and exploitation of natural resources.
Meanwhile, Ali Maisam Nazary, head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front, said in a message that Afghanistan still lacks a legitimate government and continues to face political, economic and security crises. He claimed that women and girls have been systematically excluded and that thousands of young people have been arrested and tortured on suspicion of opposing the Taliban. Nazary also claimed that more than 20,000 foreign fighters affiliated with terrorist organizations are present in Afghanistan.
Abdullah Khanjani, head of the political office of the National Resistance Front, said in a recent interview that the group had paid a “heavy price” because of the lack of international support. He said more than 1,000 resistance fighters had been killed in clashes with the Taliban over the past five years and that supporters of the movement had faced intimidation and detention. Despite this, the Resistance Front continues to call for a political system based on political participation and the people’s vote.
The Taliban have not yet issued an official response to these statements. At a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of their return to power, however, Taliban officials highlighted “security, development projects and the preservation of independence” as among the achievements of the past five years.