In recent years, opposition factions to the caretaker government, particularly the “Resistance Front” led by Ahmad Massoud, have made numerous trips, political meetings, and lobbying efforts to garner international support, but these efforts have largely been fruitless. International powers support movements with clear structure, leadership, and legitimacy, but the Resistance Front appears to have a fragmented and internally conflicted structure. The internal discord, disagreements among leaders, and lack of coordination have prevented it from presenting a clear and unified stance to the outside world. Interaction with people involved in ethnic, sectarian, and linguistic biases is unlikely and distant, as their every meeting and statement is merely photos, news, and emotional statements.
On the other hand, international powers make decisions based on their interests. They consider the caretaker government as the current ruling reality of Afghanistan, most interact with it, and some try to get closer to it. Afghanistan now hosts new interactions every week, official invitations are increasing day by day, the World Bank is pushing for loan repayments, international aid is reaching the people normally, projects worth millions of dollars are being inaugurated and are underway, security is ensured, and any kind of chaos is being prevented. All these actions are carried out as a result of the established trust. In contrast, the opponents are in a lower position, their lost trust and status are not being regained through isolated and solitary travels under a shunned slogan.
Currently, the structure of the Resistance Front is on the verge of disintegration. First, Ahmad Massoud, who uses his father’s name, is a young, politically immature, and unstable character whose circle of isolation is tightening day by day, losing his supporters. Ahmad Massoud’s recent trip to Iran was also met with criticism and sensitivity; this trip lacked any prior explanation or transparency, and the supporters of the Resistance did not understand the purpose of the trip or its outcome! Ahmad Massoud’s actions were interpreted as a political contradiction because he always introduces himself as a representative of the anti-interim government front, yet he contacts a country that has good and practical relations with the interim government. This is a sign of political weakness and a lack of strategic clarity.
These are seeming trips, mostly just for talks, conferences, and photo taking, lacking any specific purpose or practical outcome. The leaders of the caretaker government have not yet been able to present a strong, national, and practical alternative. Their trips are merely time-wasting and self-promotion, as they have neither gained international recognition nor the people’s trust. Behind these trips lie only foreign interests. Their position does not warrant independent interactions; such trips are mostly for showing political presence, not for strategic achievements. These trips remain within the realm of ceremony and display and will not pave the way for any practical action.
The stability and solidity of the caretaker government have caused mental confusion, psychological instability, and intellectual restlessness among its opponents. Ahmad Massoud, who has previously had experience in this area and used to say that hoping for foreigners is a futile effort, is now secretly traveling to Iran for some purpose! Is this not a petition to himself? Such trips are politically mistaken, as many countries are currently engaging with the caretaker government at a high diplomatic level, rendering the opponents’ efforts fruitless.
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