Massoud’s Resistance Front welcomes clerics’ urging for stop to hostilities

Kabul, Sep 5 (UNI) The National Resistance Front led by Ahmad Massoud on Sunday night issued a statement welcoming the declaration by the Ulemas calling for a cessation of hostilities between the Taliban and the resistance forces in Panjshir, even as a prominent spokesperson of Massoud’s faction was reported to have been killed in the fighting.
The National Resistance Front said it agrees in principle with resolving the current problems, and for the immediate cessation of hostilities, and continuation of the negotiation process. It hoped the Taliban would respond to the request of the clerics and take practical steps toward this end.
The NRF said it is ready to immediately end the war to achieve lasting peace if the Taliban end their attacks and military operations in Panjshir and Andarab. “We hope to hold a high-level meeting with scholars to continue this conversation,” it said.
“The NRF fully supports the call of the clerics to lift the sanctions imposed on Panjshir and hopes that the Taliban group will take this Islamic and humanitarian demand seriously and implement it.”
It said that since the people of Afghanistan are overwhelmingly Muslim and the people in all the regions have been striving to establish “a true Islamic system”, “therefore there is no religious, human, or rational reason for the Taliban attack under the pretext of fighting to install the Islamic system in Panjshir, Andarab, Parwan, Kapisa or other parts of Afghanistan”.
“The NRF proposes that the Taliban stop its military operations in Panjshir, Andarab, Parwan, and Kapisa and withdraw its forces from Panjshir and Andarab. In return, we will direct our forces to refrain from military action. The NRF declares that the Taliban’s attack on areas whose people do not trust their rule based on the Taliban’s record is against Sharia law.
“The NRF is committed to resolving disputes with the Taliban peacefully under religious and moral principles”, it said.
“We aim to reach a political settlement where all social groups are represented and committed in its establishment and promotion.”
Meanwhile, Fahim Dashti, spokesman for the Resistance Front, was killed in a battle with the Taliban.
He is believed to be related to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the Supreme National Reconciliation Council, whose whereabouts have not been heard for over two weeks now since the Taliban takeover of Kabul.