Resistance leader says Taliban support for militant networks has pushed Afghanistan into regional security turmoil.
KABUL: Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, on Friday accused the Taliban of worsening Afghanistan’s security crisis by providing safe havens to militant groups.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, the former leader of the Hezb-e Wahdat, Massoud said the Taliban had “sacrificed the Afghan people” by backing extremist organizations.
He alleged that groups including Al‑Qaeda, Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan, Jaish al‑Adl and Ansarullah are operating from Afghan territory, turning the country into a center of regional security threats and geopolitical tensions.
Massoud also criticized the Taliban for allowing cross-border military strikes by Pakistan, saying the current instability stems from what he described as the group’s “reckless policies.”
Meanwhile, Pakistani security sources said airstrikes targeted militant hideouts in southern Kandahar, destroying infrastructure allegedly used by Taliban-linked fighters and other groups. Officials said the actions were part of Operation Ghazab‑Lil‑Haq and would continue until operational goals are achieved.
Separately, Pakistan rejected criticism from India over the strikes, calling the allegations “hypocritical” and accusing New Delhi of backing militant networks from Afghan soil.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the operations were lawful and reaffirmed that Islamabad would take necessary steps to protect its citizens, while also criticizing India over its policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
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