United States should recognise Northern Alliance fighting against Taliban

Washington – Senior US senators Lindsey Graham and Senator Mike Waltz have urged President Biden to recognise the Northern Alliance, which is fighting against the Taliban’s illegal takeover of Afghanistan. The US administration has not yet clarified its position on Northern Alliance. However, there are claims of anti-Taliban groups assimilating in Panjshir Valley under the leadership of the Northern Alliance. Tajikistan stands firmly behind the Northern Alliance. Against this backdrop, an appeal made by Lindsey Graham and Senator Mike Waltz is significant.

Ahmad Massoud, son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a staunch opponent of Taliban, and Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh, are leading the Northern Alliance. Rashid Khan Dostum, an anti-Taliban leader, has joined the alliance. Recognising the danger of multiple opposition forces collating in Panjshir Valley, the Taliban has proposed a dialogue with Massoud and Saleh.

While the Taliban claimed to have resolved the dispute through negotiations, the Taliban sent thousands of militants to the Panjshir Valley. There has been news of ongoing conflict between the Northern Alliance and the Taliban, wherein Northern Alliance leaders have confirmed the death of hundreds of Taliban militants. Some videos have also been published. Ground reports suggest that the Taliban have surrounded the Panjshir valley from three sides. However, the Taliban have realised that since Tajikistan is supporting the Northern Alliance, defeating the Alliance would not be easy.

Pakistan, which is supporting the Taliban, has been quite restless on the recent developments. Pakistan had instructed Tajikistan not to do so after it was revealed that Tajikistan had supplied arms to the Northern Alliance. For this, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Qureshi had visited Tajikistan. But Tajikistan rejected the demand. Subsequently, Pakistan has since accused India of using Tajikistan to arm the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.

Extremists in Pakistan are worried that a fierce conflict between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance could lead to chaos in Afghanistan, and its consequences could affect Pakistan. Some experts have termed this as a plan hatched by India and the US to destabilise Pakistan.

US lawmakers feel that Northern Alliance is more trustworthy than a terrorist organisation like the Taliban. The Taliban’s occupation of Afghanistan is unauthorised. Hence, the appeal made by Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Mike Waltz urges the US administration to legitimise and support leaders of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, to defeat the Taliban.