The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Gen. Sami Sadat, head of the United Front of Afghanistan, has called on the United States, NATO and other countries to provide “political” support following reports of the group’s armed activities in Kandahar, saying his forces are fighting not only the Taliban but also al-Qaida, Islamic State and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The United Front, led by Sadat, a former Afghan army
general, said it had launched its armed activities from Kandahar. In a video,
the group claimed it attacked Taliban forces along the Kandahar-Spin Boldak
road on July 30.
Following reports about the group’s activities, Sadat
released a nine-minute video message early Sunday, Aug. 2, in which he thanked
the United States, NATO and other countries for supporting Afghanistan in 2001 and
called for renewed political backing.
“We do not want your soldiers, and we do not want bases from
you for our country. We have the means to fight the Taliban, but at this stage,
we want your political support,” Sadat said.
He said the group was fighting not only the Taliban but also
al-Qaida, Islamic State, TTP and other militant groups operating in
Afghanistan.
Sadat said his forces would observe international laws in
their fight against the Taliban, adding that they would not seek permission
from any other country to carry out their activities.
“We only want our freedom. We call on the international
community to stand on the right side of history,” he said.
Sadat also called for an end to international efforts to
engage in dialogue with the Taliban, saying the process should be considered a
failure. He described the group’s fight as a struggle for freedom and said
Afghans were a freedom-loving people.
Calling the ongoing campaign challenging and costly, Sadat
urged Afghans inside and outside the country to join the group’s fight for what
he described as Afghanistan’s future and freedom.
Addressing Afghanistan’s neighboring countries, Sadat said
the group wanted to free Afghanistan from Taliban rule and did not seek
confrontation with its neighbors.
“We do not want to create problems for our neighbors. We see
our future together with you. We are not against you; it is the Taliban who are
against you,” he said.
Sadat also called on Afghans to support the group, saying it
would fight on their behalf and protect them from the Taliban.
On Afghanistan’s future, Sadat said the United Front planned
to convene a grand assembly after what he described as the liberation of
Afghanistan. He said the group would seek to hand political authority to male
and female leaders to develop policies for a new Afghan government, with all
Afghans, including women and men, participating in the process.
The United Front of Afghanistan was established in the
United States in October 2023 under Sadat’s leadership. The group has so far
primarily engaged in political activities, and the reported attack in Kandahar
marks the first time sources affiliated with the group have claimed an armed
operation against the Taliban.
