On the 9th of September 2001 Shah Ahmed Massoud was assassinated in Takhar Province of Afghanistan in a suicidal attack by suspected al-Qaeda agents. 8 Years and two days after the “9/11 attacks”,  foreign military forces are in Afghanistan to fight this time the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other Islamic fundamentalist movements. Nearly everyday the western media report about suicide attacks, kidnappings, missleaded bombings,  security threats, civilian casualties,  a failed democraty implementation, massive election fraud, increasing opium production, the very slow empowerment progess and a widespread corruption. The situation is looking more desperate than ever and not only the Nato forces seem to be overstrained, also the West is unoriented.

But today we would like to honor Shah Ahmad Massoud. He not only played an important role of driving the Soviet army out of Afghanistan, he was the most important leader agianst the Taliban after their rise in 1996. With success Shah Ahmad Massoud united different warlords and tribe leaders to an United islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan. From the remaining north Massoud and this union were resisting and fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda Movement. In April 2001 Massoud warned in a speech in front of the European Parliament that the Talibans had connections with al-Quaeda and that a terrorist attack was imminent. A few months later two al-Qaeda members which have been undercover as journalists were asking Massoud for an interview. During the pretended interview a bomb in a camera was set off killing Massoud. Two days later the 9/11 attacks were launched. With the loss of Shah Ahmad Massoud, Afghanistan lost not only an outstanding successful mujaheedin, also a charismatic charakter which could have played an important role in afghan reconciliation.

al-jinn 09.09.09

BBC Arabic | Massoud Report 2009

Wikipedia | Shah Ahmad Massoud

Rare Interview with Shah Ahmad Massoud | 1998 made by the Journalist Christophe de Ponfilly

Reportage about Shah Ahmad Massoud | by Christophe de Ponfilly “Massoud l’Afghan” Part 1 out of 9