RASC News Agency: Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan, declared during the Vienna conference:
“We must reclaim Kandahar and restore freedom to the city.” Speaking at the gathering, Massoud emphasized his comprehensive vision for Afghanistan, describing it as a direct result of previous Vienna meetings and a blueprint for an inclusive future. Massoud attended the conference on Tuesday, February 18, alongside prominent anti-Taliban figures, including Yasin Zia, leader of the Freedom Front, Fawzia Koofi, and several former Afghanistan government officials.
During the session, Yasin Zia urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to issue an arrest warrant for the Taliban’s Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. He also expressed optimism for a future free from Taliban rule, stating:
“I hope that one day, as Haji Sahib (Ahmad Massoud) says, we can sit in a café in Kabul and enjoy tea together.” Zia shared how Taliban brutality against a woman led him to join the National Resistance Front, previously led by Afghanistan’s national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud.
Recalling his experience during the Taliban’s first regime, he stated:
“After news of Dr. Najibullah’s public execution spread, I went to witness the scene. On my way, I saw the Taliban whipping a woman in public. I wanted to intervene, but people urged me to stay away. The next day, I picked up a rifle and joined the resistance.” In response to the Vienna conference, the Taliban dismissed its significance, claiming that opposition figures were welcome to return to Afghanistan with guaranteed security.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated:
“Brothers, return to your homeland, and the Taliban will ensure your safety.” He further condemned the conference, calling it “anti-Afghanistan.” Now in its fifth round, the Vienna Conference has consistently served as a platform for uniting anti-Taliban factions, with Ahmad Massoud playing a central role in all previous sessions.
