Although none of Afghanistan’s warlords tasted the sweetness of kingship and absolute power, a little reflection on the shameful history of their lives reveals that their behavior and actions were no less than those of a cruel and criminal king or ruler, and they implemented all of their traits and habits one after another in their lives.
In the meantime, the hereditary nature of power has been a constant characteristic of these warlords; so much so that during the collapse of the republic, each of them tried to elevate their sons to positions of honor, status, and authority. From Ismail Khan, the warlord of Herat, to Dostum, Atta Mohammad Noor, Burhanuddin Rabbani, Ahmad Shah Massoud, and other hated figures in the contemporary history of Afghanistan.
After the collapse of the republic, although all the fugitive warlords’ activity and movement declined and faded, a number of them declared opposition, claiming resistance and dreaming of reoccupying Afghanistan. Ahmad Massoud, the beloved son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, who spent most of his life in European countries and was raised by foreigners, is one of those who raised their voices in opposition to the Afghan government and considers himself his father’s successor.
After the fall of the republic, the name of Ahmad Massoud emerged as the leader of the “Resistance Front,” with many initially considering him the political and military heir of Ahmad Shah Massoud. However, over time, realities showed that the gap between him and his father’s position was very large.
The first point is the distrust of the leaders, former officials, and well-known figures of the Northern Alliance toward him. While Ahmad Shah Massoud was able to bring together a wide range of commanders and politicians from the north in the 1970s, Ahmad Massoud does not hold such a position; because many figures who once fought alongside his father have either remained silent today or have publicly distanced themselves from Ahmad Massoud; a fragmentation that clearly shows the political trust and cohesion of the past is not present in the current resistance front.
On the other hand, Ahmad Massoud has had no military achievements. His initial efforts in the early days of the republic’s collapse to mobilize people in Panjshir and some northern provinces were also quickly suppressed, and his remaining forces either fled or surrendered. As a result, many of his supporters lost their motivation and abandoned him.
Another important factor is the personal influence of Ahmad Massoud. Unlike his father, who could mobilize the people and even commanded a kind of respect among the opposition, Ahmad Massoud has not been able to achieve such a position. His personality remained unknown and ineffective for many people in Afghanistan during the years when he was needed, due to his distance from the Afghan people. In fact, he is better known as a media figure than as a field leader.
In addition, internal divisions within the resistance front, political disorganization, and overt reliance on foreign support have further weakened Ahmad Massoud’s position. Many believe that instead of relying on domestic capabilities, he has placed excessive hope in external aid, an approach that has eroded public trust and diminished his influence among other prominent figures.
All these factors indicate that Ahmad Massoud has been unable to fill his father’s shoes. He has no political influence to unite leaders and currents, He has achieved no victory or gain in the military field, and he has no social standing to bring people together.
On the contrary, his circle of associates is shrinking day by day, the flimsy front of resistance has been reduced to Massoud’s family, and well-known figures are leaving him one after another. Therefore, Ahmad Massoud today is more a symbol of the collapse of a front that was once, at least by some, called authoritative rather than a true leader.
His personality lacks serious impact, and his distance from the position of Ahmad Shah Massoud shows that “being an heir” is not enough; rather, leadership requires political, military, and social abilities that Ahmad Massoud has not demonstrated to date.
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