May 19, 2021

Son of late Northern Alliance leader builds movement in Afghanistan as US troops withdraw and uncertainty rises

Source: Stars and Stripes

Journalist: Phillip Walter Wellman

The son of one of Afghanistan’s most renowned guerrilla leaders is working to unite disparate militias against the Taliban, fearing the group may try to regain control of the country after U.S. and coalition forces exit.

Ahmad Massoud, 32, whose father was the late Northern Alliance commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, said over 100,000 militia leaders, fighters and other stakeholders in northern Afghanistan have so far pledged support to his movement.

But by operating separately from the government, critics say the movement, dubbed “Resistance 2.0,” risks deepening divisions that could make the fall of the government and national security forces more likely.

It’s a scenario that could play out throughout the country as regional leaders vie to protect their territories and their power, analysts said.

Read the full story and more from Stars and Stripes.

Author

  • Lisa Curtis

    Senior Fellow and Director, Indo-Pacific Security Program

    Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at CNAS. She is a foreign policy and national security expert with over 20 years of service in...