Afghanistan Freedom Front
جبههَ آزادی افغانستان (Dari)
د افغانستان د ازادۍ جبهه (Pashto)
Dates of operation12 March 2022[1] – present
Active regionsNationwide across Afghanistan
IdeologyAnti-Taliban
Federalism
StatusActive
Allies National Resistance Front[2]
Opponents Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Battles and warsAfghan conflict
Websitehttps://freedom-front.com/

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 pro-NRF fighters, putting in perspective the NRF's appeal being limited to Tajiks and pro-Jamiat e Islami groups.[4]

History

In March 2022, the AFF announced its formation to the public via social media.[5]

On 14 April, the AFF reported that its fighters have engaged Taliban forces simultaneously in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Parwan, Takhar, Laghman and Samangan.[6]

On 5 July, 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]

On 10 March 2023, AFF detonated an IED on Taliban forces, killing 3 at Police Station District 5 in Kabul.[10]

On 30 March, AFF claimed its fighters attacked the Taliban Security Command in Kabul and killed two Taliban fighters.[11]

On 12 April, 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 May 9, 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, the AFF conducted an attack in Baglan province, resulting in two Taliban deaths and four injuries.[16]

On 4 July, the AFF announced the killing of a Taliban member and the injuring of three other members in Kapisa Province.[17]

On August 9, 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 August 17, AFF fighters attacked Taliban forces at Kabul in the 11th district, killing four Taliban fighters and wounding six.[21] On August 18, 5 Taliban fighters were killed and three were injured in an AFF attack on Parwan.[22]

On September 1, the AFF claimed they killed two Taliban fighters in Kabul's Shakardara district.[23]

On September 3, the AFF reported two Taliban fighters killed in Laghman province.[24]

On December 5, the AFF claimed that they have killed 50 Taliban fighters alongside the NRF.[25]

On December 6, the AFF claimed to have attacked the Taliban governor's office in Panjshir province, killing at least two Taliban fighters.[26]

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]

Leadership

According to Voice of America, Yasin Zia is reported to be one of the leaders.[28] 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.[29]

Locations

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]

References

  1. ^ a b Bureau, N. V. I. (12 March 2022). "New outfit Afghanistan Freedom Front vows to end Taliban's 'tyrant rule'". Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b O'Connor, Tom; Khaled, Fatma (30 August 2022). "A Year After U.S. Exit, Afghan rebel groups are waging war on Taliban rule". Newsweek.
  3. ^ a b "Afghan resistance accuses Taliban of crimes and torture in Panjshir". PIME Asia News. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Afghanistan's Security Challenges under the Taliban". 12 August 2022.
  5. ^ Kapur, Roshni. "New anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan: Genesis of a low-intensity conflict?". Orf.
  6. ^ "ACLED Regional Overview - South Asia and Afghanistan (2-8 April 2022) - Afghanistan | ReliefWeb".
  7. ^ "Six Taliban Members Killed in Alleged Missile Attack by Liberation Front on Bagram Airport - Hasht-e Subh Daily". 8am.af. Retrieved 6 July 2022.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Taliban Operations in Baghlan Repelled, Says Afghanistan Freedom Front".
  9. ^ "Key Commander of the Taliban Killed in Kandahar". 6 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) Detonate an IED on Taliban (IEA) Forces, Killing 3, PD 5, Kabul". 10 March 2023.
  11. ^ Subh, Hasht-E. (30 March 2023). "AFF Claims Killing Two Fighters in Attack on Taliban Security Command in Kabul". Hasht-e Subh Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Anti-Taliban armed front yet to confirm the death of its senior commander Akmal Ameer". 12 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Afghanistan Freedom Front confirms the death of Akmal Ameer". 16 April 2023.
  14. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/05/afghanistan-freedom-front-claims-killing-three-taliban-fighters-in-rocket-attack/
  15. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/05/afg-freedom-front-claims-killing-two-taliban-members-in-kabul-2/
  16. ^ "در حمله جبهه آزادی در بغلان چندین عضو طالبان مجروح شدند". ایندیپندنت فارسی (in Persian). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. ^ "AFF Announces Killing Taliban Member in Kapisa Province". Afghanistan International. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  18. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-4-taliban-members-in-badakhshan-province/
  19. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-5-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  20. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-6-taliban-members-in-baghlan-province/
  21. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-10-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  22. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-8-taliban-members-in-parwan-amid-rise-in-attacks/
  23. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/09/afghanistan-freedom-front-claims-to-have-killed-two-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  24. ^ https://kabulnow.com/2023/09/aff-claims-killing-two-taliban-forces-in-laghman-province/
  25. ^ https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-insurgent-groups-step-up-attacks-political-campaign-against-taliban-/7386099.html
  26. ^ "Freedom Front claims responsibility for attack on Taliban governor's office, resulting in four casualties". Daryo UZ. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Panjshir Taliban Governor's Office Rocket Attack: Afghanistan Freedom Front Claims Killing Two Fighters". 8am Media. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Afghan 'Fighting Season' Ushers in New Anti-Taliban Groups".
  29. ^ "Afghan Resistance Leaders See 'No Option' but War".


Categories