In this episode of the Shawn Ryan Show, Ahmad Massoud reflects on his father's warnings about terrorism that tragically came true on 9/11. Now leading the National Resistance Front against the Taliban, Massoud reveals the Taliban's close ties to terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS.
He discusses Afghanistan's descent into a terrorist haven after the U.S. withdrawal and voices concerns about future attacks emanating from the Taliban-ruled nation. Massoud also provides insight into the resistance movement, detailing the NRF's guerrilla tactics against the Taliban's oppressive regime despite lacking resources and international support.
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Ahmad Massoud reflects on his father Ahmad Shah Massoud's legacy as a military genius who led resistance against the Soviets and global terrorism. The elder Massoud warned of an impending terrorist attack on the U.S., which tragically materialized on 9/11 just days after his assassination.
Ahmad Massoud has continued his father's fight against the Taliban and terrorism. After military training abroad, he founded the National Resistance Front (NRF) to combat the Taliban's 2021 resurgence in Afghanistan.
According to Massoud, the Taliban maintains close alliances with groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS. Afghanistan under Taliban rule has become a haven for over 21 terrorist organizations to train and operate, with the Taliban receiving U.S. funds that may be misused to support terrorism.
Massoud reveals that his warnings about Afghanistan's collapse from a hasty U.S. withdrawal were ignored. The withdrawal was a political disaster, rapidly emboldening the Taliban and demoralizing Afghan forces. Since then, the Taliban have unleashed brutal oppression on Afghans. Massoud warns of the heightened risk of attacks on U.S. soil from terrorist groups gaining strength under Taliban rule.
Ahmad Massoud formed the NRF to resist Taliban rule. Adopting guerrilla tactics, the NRF has conducted successful operations across provinces while minimizing casualties. Massoud's leadership has inspired continued resistance among Afghans.
However, the NRF's efforts lack resources and international support. Massoud has been unable to travel to the U.S. to plead for aid, and there are concerns that evacuating skilled anti-Taliban fighters could diminish the resistance's chances.
1-Page Summary
Ahmad Massoud reflects on his father's legacy, his strategic military acumen, and the echoes of his unheeded warnings before the tragedy of 9/11. As Ahmad Shah Massoud's son, Ahmad Massoud now continues the fight against the Taliban and terrorism in Afghanistan, upholding his father's message of resistance.
Recognized as a military genius and national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud led decisive resistance efforts against the Soviet invasion and global terrorism. He was noted for his ability to not only unify diverse factions but also to impede the efforts of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Massoud's strategies were so effective that with minimal resources, he contained the spread of extremist influence and captured militants from around the world.
Beyond his military prowess, Ahmad Shah Massoud stood as a symbol of moderation in Islam, counteracting the radical views of terrorist groups and representing the non-extremist majority. At the brink of reclaiming control and restoring order in Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Massoud, foresaw that the turmoil could expand beyond the nation's borders.
In a foreboding revelation, Ahmad Shah Massoud provided several warnings about an impending terrorist attack on the United States—a tragic possibility that materialized with the September 11 attacks. Just days prior to 9/11, Ahmad Shah Massoud was assassinated, a grim precursor to the calamity that would soon grip the world. In 2001, during a trip to Europe, Massoud cautioned that without support to foster freedom and democracy, Afghanistan's instability posed a significant global threat.
Emulating his father's resilience, Ahmad Massoud has endeavored to build upon his father's legacy. After receiving military training at Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK and completing war studies at Kin ...
The History and Warnings of the Massoud Family
Reports provided by Ahmad Massoud shed light on the deep-rooted connections between the Taliban and multiple terrorist organizations, raising grave concerns about Afghanistan's role as a breeding ground for international terrorism.
Massoud presents clear evidence of cooperation between the Taliban and various terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Ansarullah. Sharing a lengthy history of collaboration, these groups have been deeply intertwined through strategic partnerships and shared battlefields, including joint efforts against Ahmad Shah Massoud and fighting alongside many countries against America.
Massoud expresses that while the Taliban's linkages seem tactical and focused on short-term alliances, their relationships have created lasting bonds, evidenced by the intermarriages and family integration over the past 20 years. This complexity makes it difficult to distinguish between the organizations, as their fighters, expertise, and resources, including bomb-making skills and intellectual guidance, are shared closely between the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
Under Taliban rule, Afghanistan has reemerged as a safe haven for terrorism, with over 21 terrorist organizations utilizing it as a training hub and operational base. The groups have drawn inspiration from the Taliban's resurgence, embarking on aggressive recruitment and expanded activities, as seen by the 500% spike in attacks in Pakistan since the group's return to power.
Massoud's insights reveal that the Taliban have formed a myriad of NGOs, potentially to disguise their control mechanisms or channel funds. Astonishingly, the Taliban have access to 2.5 billion dollars internally, aside from receiving around 70 million dollars weekly from the U.S., allowing them to expand and sustain their terrorist capabilities potentially. The misuse of American funds, initially intended to combat terrorism, has backfired, with financial resources inadvertently feeding back into the cycle of terror.
The rise in int ...
The Taliban's ties to terrorism and their activities in Afghanistan
A deep dive into the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan reveals it was not only a political disaster but also led to brutal repercussions for the Afghan people.
Ahmad Massoud, a key critic of the Afghan leadership under Ashraf Ghani, warned that the hasty U.S. withdrawal would lead to a collapse. Despite numerous warnings to U.S. and European officials, including Zalmay Khalilzad and the U.S. Embassy, about the imminent threat of the country's collapse, no substantial action was taken. Massoud described the withdrawal process as demoralizing for Afghan forces, criticizing its execution for empowering the Taliban and leaving the Afghan military feeling abandoned.
Massoud revealed that he knew the withdrawal would happen on September 1st but was left in the dark about the specific dates leading up to it. He condemns the decision to blacklist him from coming to the U.S. and the efforts to cover up what occurred during the withdrawal process.
Massoud observed that three months prior to the Taliban seizing control, they did not hold a single district, emphasizing that the unconditional withdrawal and subsequent negotiations with the Taliban led to a rapid and demoralizing collapse for the Afghan soldiers. It was characterized not as a military defeat but rather a political one, brought about by a lack of leadership, strategy, and a sudden and disheartening departure of U.S. support.
Since the withdrawal, the Taliban have unleashed a wave of terror on the Afghan population, indulging in torture, rape, and extrajudicial killings, as described by Massoud. Those who previously fought against the Taliban live in constant danger, and many Afghans feel betrayed after being left to fend for themselves against an enemy they faced for twenty years with U.S. support. The dreams and trust of the Afghan people have been shattered, and the Taliban's horrific acts exceed even those committed by past ...
The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and its aftermath
In the face of adversity and an uphill struggle for resources and international recognition, Ahmad Massoud and the National Resistance Front (NRF) continue their efforts to resist the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.
Ahmad Massoud, drawing inspiration from his late father, formed the National Resistance Front to oppose the harsh rule of the Taliban over Afghanistan. The courage and tenacity of Massoud's leadership and the NRF fighters have sparked a spirit of resistance among the Afghan people.
After the collapse of Kabul, Ahmad Massoud made a strategic pivot from conventional warfare to guerrilla tactics. The NRF, recognizing their constraints, intentionally chose military targets that hold crucial value to the Taliban, focusing on individuals from the Taliban's intelligence service involved in human rights abuses. The NRF's precise operations have resulted in expanding their efforts to 12 provinces, executing more than 25 attacks in Kabul alone in the past three months, according to a United Nations report. Shawn Ryan praised the NRF's tactical evolution and Massoud's use of well-trained commandos for guerrilla operations.
Massoud has emphasized the importance of creating a counter-narrative against the Taliban. His organization has stood against the Taliban for three years, not suffering a single casualty or prisoner, since adopting guerrilla tactics, and managing to carry out attacks with minimal civilian harm. Massoud sees the NRF's survival and continued resistance as a sign of divine purpose, and believes that Afghanistan can be retaken and restored with sufficient trained, credible, and experienced personnel.
Massoud has voiced frustration over the lack of international support, particularly from the United States, which has shown little interest in allowing him to bring the NRF ...
The current resistance movement in Afghanistan
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