JURIST EXCLUSIVE – Law students in Afghanistan are filing reports with JURIST on the situation there after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Here, a law student in Kabul offers his latest observations and perspective. For privacy and security reasons we are withholding his name and institutional affiliation. The text has been only lightly edited to respect the author’s voice.
Following the visit of the director of Pakistan’s intelligence service (ISI) to Kabul on 4th September, the Taliban last night (5th September) attacked the Panjshir Valley in full force with their Red Battalion and so called Badri forces supported by drone strikes and fighter helicopters. After last night’s battle, the Taliban spokesperson claimed the Taliban had control of Panjshir province, but this was later denied by resistance sources.
The Taliban lost many fighters in this major attempt to take control of Panjshir, including the military commander of the northern provinces. On the other hand, resistance leader Amrulah Saleh has reportedly fled to Tajikistan to gather international support, and Ahmad Masoud – son of the late legendary Northern Alliance commander Ahmad Shah Masoud – is well and safe in Panjshir. Although the resistance has suffered heavy casualities after non-stop fighting for days and the resistance fighters mostly have not eaten or slept for more than 72 hours, the Taliban have reinforced their front lines with new troops and are reported to have received ground and air support from Pakistan and civil aid from Qatar. The Qatari planes landed in Kabul, supposedly bringing supplies, food and medical equipment for “The Public of Afghanistan”, but knowing that the Taliban are fighting a war and have besieged resistance forces in Panjshir, I don’t think they will be giving away food and medical supplies to the public.
Yesterday, the Afghan resistance lost a very important figure in their ranks – Fahim Dashti, their spokesperson. Ironically, Dashti was injured during an attack on the former northern alliance leader Ahmad Shah Masoud in September 2001, and in September of 2021 – twenty years later – he died while fighting alongside Ahmad Shah Masoud’s son Ahmad Massoud; he was reportedly hit by a Pakistani drone strike on the media offices of the resistance. In Afghanistan his death has been praised as heroic, reflecting great courage to fight for freedom. Dashti was a companion of Qahar Assi, the Persian language poet. He was also a of nephew to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the former chief executive of Afghanistan and chairman of the peace national counsel.
On another note, Taliban mullahs in the west of the country are seeking the apprehension of people of the Salafi sect of Sunni Muslims in the country, which has set fear among the Shia branch of Afghan Muslims that they will be targeted later. In Ghoor province a pregnant woman who was a former police officer was tortured and killed by Taliban in front of her husband and children.
We are devastated, angry and resentful watching Pakistani drones and soldiers kill our people in their own birthplace in their own homes. As a law student it breaks my heart to realize that the law is a tool for powerful nations of the world and dried ink on a worthless piece of paper for the people who actually need it.
Pakistan’s drone attacks, military support and funding terrorists for decades are acts of aggression under the very text of the Article 39 of the UN charter and Article 8bis of the Rome Statute, yet the US, UK, NATO, EU and every sort of other useless international organization have turned the blind eye on us, and the bloodthirsty mainstream media is only waiting for a bloodbath to report It. Holding accountable an entity that funds terrorism is, I would think, a lot cheaper than fighting a 20 year war. But up to the time of writing of this article only Iran has called for an investigation into Pakistan’s military involvement in the war against our people. The west has taken vows of silence, and in particular the current US administration seems to have no regard for the consequences of their actions.
