The National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan has vowed to keep its momentum strong against the Taliban. The NRF is a grassroots resistance movement that emerged from the rugged terrain of the Panjshir Valley.
Historically, the Panjshir Valley has served as a pocket of resistance in the past against the Soviet invasion. Subsequently the grassroots movement from Panjshir has fought against the rise of Taliban since 1990s.
The NRF is led by Ahmad Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud or the “Lion of Panjshir”. Ahmad Shah Massoud played a critical role in forming an anti-Taliban resistance after it came to power in 1996.
NRF says it has respect for the law, human rights, women’s rights, children’s rights and freedom. The group is making both political and military efforts to upstage the Taliban. NRF are lobbying against any form of international recognition of the Taliban’s government. NRF says that democracy must be re-established in Afghanistan for the welfare of the people and region. NRF says that if the Taliban remains in power, international terrorism increases and threatens Afghanistan’s existence.
The NRF has around 17 bases in Panjshir that are well protected with ground and aerial forces. Mountainous landscape provides advantage and plays a strong role in making it the epicentre of guerrilla warfare. Four months since the Taliban takeover, the NRF is determined to continue to fight despite its limited reach.
Bhagyashree Gupta 
Balaji Subramanian 
Aayush Pal