NRF denies Israeli claims regarding a plea for Israeli assistance

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen
4 Oct 2023 14:38
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Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the NRF denies allegations that Ahmed Masoud requested 'Israel’s' help.

Leader of the so-called National Resistance Front in Afghanistan Ahmad Massoud in an interview with AFP in 2019 (screengrab of YouTube video)

The head of Afghanistan's anti-Taliban armed group, the National Resistance Front (NRF), denied a report published on Wednesday by Israeli newspaper Maariv stating that he, responding to a question by the media outlet, requested assistance from the occupation entity.

Ahmad Massoud said that the "enemies of Afghanistan are attempting to frame" the NRF.

Al Mayadeen correspondent contacted the NRF, and a spokesperson of the group affirmed that the Israeli allegations are unfounded and baseless.

Earlier today, Maariv cited Massoud as telling the news outlet that his party needs "Israel's" assistance in its fight against the Taliban. However, according to the Afghani leader, he stressed that the NRF "needs assistance from any party willing to support" it, but did not specifically mention "Israel".

Following Washington's hasty exit from Afghanistan, the Taliban claimed rule of the country and established a government. This phase saw clashes between the party and local individuals and groups who were allied with the United States during its occupation period, including Massoud.

"I believe we all need to work together for the advancement of humanity in the face of darkness, terrorism, and ignorance," he added, per the report.

Massoud also allegedly stated that he has no desire to become president himself; instead, a democratic government will be set up, which will subsequently determine its official global ties and involvement in regional projects with "Israel."

"It is necessary to overcome past conflicts and live together in peace. Unfortunately, we live in an interconnected world," Maariv claimed quoting him as saying.

Earlier this year, Massoud said that the United States has "shifted its focus from Afghanistan to Ukraine, and other regions after the Taliban took over in 2021."

He expressed then that they "feel betrayed and abandoned after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021."

It is worth noting that the NFR is a military alliance of "entities and figures opposing the Taliban movement," founded by father Ahmad Shah Massoud, during the Soviet Union era.

On November 12, 2021, about two months after the Taliban regained power, the Massoud's group issued an official statement condemning the new government in Kabul and criticizing the former president, Ashraf Ghani. The Taliban in turn, announced that any US support for the "National Resistance Front" constitutes a breach of the 2020 Doha Agreement.