He stressed that what is happening in Afghanistan is not confined within its borders, but will affect regional security and stability.
Speaking at the conference “Afghanistan at a Crossroads: Dialogue for Hope and Action,” held in Paris on March 16, Massoud said that the rules-based global order is now collapsing. He added that this order has become more transactional than value-driven and that Afghanistan is among the countries most affected by this shift.
The Resistance Front leader emphasized that Afghanistan is facing intertwined security, humanitarian, and political crises—something that had long been evident, as “we were aware of the nature of the Taliban; we fought this evil and resisted this disease.”
He added that Afghanistan is increasingly being pushed to the margins by the international community due to these ongoing crises.
Massoud said that following the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021, Afghanistan has become a reminder of a failure that many prefer to forget.
He further stated that the Taliban did not bring peace to Afghanistan, but instead brought repression. According to him, the country has once again become a suitable environment for extremists and terrorist groups. He noted that groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS, and al-Qaeda are present in Afghanistan and are benefiting from this safe haven.
The anti-Taliban figure said that a post-Taliban Afghanistan must be a neutral country, living in peace with itself, its neighbors, and the world.
He added that Afghanistan must have an elected and legitimate government, stressing that no government can claim legitimacy while institutionalizing oppression against half of its population.
Massoud concluded that freedom, dignity, and women’s rights to education and work are non-negotiable. He said Afghanistan belongs to all, not to any single ideology or group.
