The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) is an anti-Taliban militant group operating in Afghanistan.[1] In some parts of Afghanistan, the AFF and National Resistance Front (NRF) collaborate on anti-Taliban operations.[3]
The AFF has reportedly tried to recruit and support pro-NRF fighters in different parts of country, putting in perspective the NRF and AFF's joint appeal being more popular among Tajiks and pro-Jamiat e Islami groups.[4]
Timeline of resistance
2022
In March 2022, the AFF announced its formation to the public via social media.[5]
On 14 April 2022, the AFF reported that its fighters have engaged Taliban forces simultaneously in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Parwan, Takhar, Laghman and Samangan.[6]
On 5 July 2022, the AFF killed six Taliban soldiers and wounded two in a missile attack on Bagram Airfield. A Taliban military vehicle was also destroyed.[7] On 15 July, AFF fighters fought off a Taliban incursion in Khost wa Farang district.[8]
On 6 October 2022, there were claims that AFF fighters in Kandahar had assassinated a Taliban commander.[9]
2023
On 10 March 2023, AFF detonated an IED on Taliban forces, killing 3 at Police Station District 5 in Kabul.[10]
On 30 March 2023, AFF claimed its fighters attacked the Taliban Security Command in Kabul and killed two Taliban fighters.[11]
On 12 April 2023, AFF representatives denied Taliban reports that Akmal Ameer was killed by Taliban forces, although they did confirm six AFF fighters dead.[12] But on 16 April, the AFF did say that Ameer was killed by Taliban fighters.[13]
On 9 May 2023, the AFF claimed an attack on Taliban positions in Kapisa province, killing three and wounding four Taliban fighters.[14] On May 10, AFF spokesman Nasrullah Fateh claimed an attack on Taliban forces in Kabul, killing three and wounding three Taliban fighters.[15]
On 4 June 2023, the AFF conducted an attack in Baglan province, resulting in two Taliban deaths and four injuries.[16]
On 4 July 2023, the AFF announced the killing of a Taliban member and the injuring of three other members in Kapisa Province.[17]
On 9 August 2023, the AFF claimed a gun attack at the entrance of Faizabad Airport in northeastern Badakhshan province, killing one and wounding three Taliban fighters.[18] On August 12, the AFF reported an attack on Taliban forces in Kabul manning a checkpoint; five were killed and three Taliban fighters wounded.[19] In addition, AFF fighters raided a Taliban garrison in Baghlan province on Friday at 11:40 pm in the Pul-e-Madan, Pul Khumri with two Taliban fighters killed and four wounded.[20]
On 17 August 2023, AFF fighters attacked Taliban forces at Kabul in the 11th district, killing four Taliban members and wounding six.[21] On August 18, 5 Taliban fighters were killed and three were injured in an AFF attack on Parwan.[22]
On 1 September 2023, the AFF claimed they killed two Taliban members in Kabul's Shakardara district.[23]
On 3 September 2023, the AFF reported two Taliban members killed in Laghman province.[24]
On 5 December 2023, the AFF claimed that they have killed 50 Taliban members alongside the NRF.[25]
On 6nDecember 2023, the AFF claimed to have attacked the Taliban governor's office in Panjshir province, killing at least two Taliban members.[26]
2024
On January 13, 2024, the AFF claimed to have attacked the Taliban Governor’s office in Panjshir province killing two Taliban fighters and injured another member during a rocket attack in the Tajik area of Jabal al-Sirāj district.[27]
On February 19, 2024, the AFF reported in two separate attacks on Taliban outposts, killing seven Taliban fighters and four others were wounded in Kabul.[28]
On February 21, 2024, the AFF had announced that forces attacked a Taliban outpost in the centre of Parwan province, killing one Taliban member and injuring two other members.[29]
On April 11 2024, AFF leader Yasin Zia and NRF leader Ahmad Massoud held their joint meeting and discussed the future strategy. [30]
On April 17, 2024, the AFF resumed guerilla attacks against Taliban targets.[31]
On April 20, 2024, the AFF Claims to have killed 3 Members of Taliban's Intelligence Agency in Kabul's District 2.[32]
On April 29, 2024, the AFF Claims to have been killed 4 Members of Taliban and two others had been injured during the attack in Kabul's Qoway Markaz area.[33]
On May 18, 2024, the AFF claims that have been killed 3 members of Taliban and injured another in the Attack On Group Leader Guards near Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque in Kabul.[34]
On May 21, 2024, the AFF claims that have been killed 2 members of Taliban and another were injured during the Attack checkpoint of the group’s Ministry of Defence near Karte Naw area in Kabul.[35]
On May 29, 2024, the AFF claims that a Taliban commander Fazluddin Osmani had been killed and 3 other Taliban members were injured in the attackan outpost of the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior in the Karte Naw area of Kabul.[36]
On May 30, 2024, the AFF announced resulted that killing 3 Taliban members and injured 5 others at the taliban convoy near the Barki traffic intersection in Kabul.[37]
On June 1, 2024, the AFF has claimed responsibility for an explosion in the Khair Khana area of Kabul, stating the attack resulted killing 2 Taliban members and injuries 3 others.[38]
On June 14, 2024, the AFF claimed for the responsibility attack in Kabul, stating 1 Taliban member killed and another was injured in the incident.[39]
On June 22, 2024, the AFF Claims that have killed 3 Taliban members in an attack on a Taliban military outpost in Panjshir province.[40]
On June 25, 2024, the NRF & AFF claimed that 7 Taliban fighters were killed in these attacks at the Taliban checkpoint outpost in Kabul.[41]
On July 1, 2024, during the end of the first day of the UN meeting in Doha, the AFF reported an attack on the Taliban in Kabul.[42]
On July 5, 2024, the AFF announced the viral video that killed 2 Taliban members and injured another in a guerrilla attack. [43]
On July 22, 2024, the AFF announced on Sunday evening that forces targeted "Mullah Zarin Gujar, the Taliban's head of transportation" in Baghlan province. According to the front, 2 Taliban members were "killed” during the attack, and there is "no precise information available" about the fate of Mullah Zarin. [44]
On July 23, 2024, the AFF stated members attacked a "convoy of Taliban intelligence militia" in the Karte Sakhi area of Kabul killing 4 Taliban members and another individual had been injured during the attack. [45]
On August 8, 2024, the AFF claimed that had conducted an attack killing 3 Taliban fighters in the incident on a Taliban checkpoint near Baraki Square in Kabul. [46]
On August 15, 2024, the 3rd anniversary of the Taliban's rule, the AFF has been declared that the time has come for unity, cohesion, and alignment among all anti-Taliban groups and forces. [47]
On August 19, 2024, the AFF claims that 4 Taliban members were killed and 1 was injured during the attack at Fourth Security District in Kabul. [48]
On 12 September 2024, the AFF claimed killing six Taliban fighters in Kabul and Balkh.[49]
On 5 October 2024, the AFF announced that killed 2 Taliban members and wounded another member of the group in targeted operation at Imam Sahib port in Kunduz province on 4 October 2024.[50]
On 19 October 2024, the AFF claims that killing 4 Taliban members during the attacked Taliban checkpoint at the entrance of the group's Interior Ministry on 18 October evening.[51]
On 20 October 2024, the AFF claimed to have attacked Kabul Airport with missiles and a small Infantry element on October 19. The front did not release casualty numbers, but stated they had inflicted heavy casualties and damaged Taliban aircraft under repair in the Airport. [52]
Leadership
According to Voice of America, former Chief of General StaffAfghanistan General Yasin Zia is reported to be one of the AFF's leaders.[53] He is reportedly working with NRF officials, including Ahmad Massoud to get weapons and support for an anti-Taliban front.[3] This includes traveling to get support for the AFF.[54]Daoud Naji is the head of the AFF political committee as of September 2024.[55]
According to an AFF representative, the group is mobile, but operates in Salang valley in Parwan province; the Andarab and Khost-Farang districts in Baghlan province; the Ishkamish district in Takhar province as well as Sar-e-Pol, Nuristan, and Faryab provinces.[2]
^"تخریب تندیس مزاری؛ جبهه آزادی میگوید طالبان 'برای نابودی شیرازه وطنداری کمر بسته است'" [The destruction of the Mazari statue; Freedom Front says the Taliban is "determined to dismantle the fabric of nationhood"]. Afghanistan International (in Persian). 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024. The head of the political committee of the Afghanistan Freedom Front, in response to the destruction of the statue of Abdul Ali Mazari, the founder of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, said that the Taliban is determined to destroy the fabric of nationhood.
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