Afghanistan Freedom Front جبههَ آزادی افغانستان (Dari) د افغانستان د ازادۍ جبهه (Pashto) | |
---|---|
Dates of operation | 12 March 2022 [1] – present |
Active regions | Nationwide across Afghanistan |
Ideology | Anti-
Taliban Federalism |
Status | Active |
Allies |
National Resistance Front
[2] National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan |
Opponents | Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan |
Battles and wars | Afghan conflict |
Website | https://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 and suport pro-NRF fighters in different parts of country, putting in perspective the NRF and AFF's joint appeal being more popular among Tajiks and pro- Jamiat e Islami groups. [4]
In March 2022, the AFF announced its formation to the public via social media. [5]
On 14 April 2022, the AFF reported that its fighters have engaged Taliban forces simultaneously in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Parwan, Takhar, Laghman and Samangan. [6]
On 5 July 2022, 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 2023, AFF claimed its fighters attacked the Taliban Security Command in Kabul and killed two Taliban fighters. [11]
On 12 April 2023, 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 2023, 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 2023, the AFF conducted an attack in Baglan province, resulting in two Taliban deaths and four injuries. [16]
On 4 July 2023, the AFF announced the killing of a Taliban member and the injuring of three other members in Kapisa Province. [17]
On August 9 2023, 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 2023, 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 2023, the AFF claimed they killed two Taliban fighters in Kabul's Shakardara district. [23]
On September 3 2023, the AFF reported two Taliban fighters killed in Laghman province. [24]
On December 5 2023, the AFF claimed that they have killed 50 Taliban fighters alongside the NRF. [25]
On December 6 2023, 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]
On February 19, 2024, the AFF reported in two separate attacks on Taliban outposts, killing seven Taliban fighters and four others were wounded in Kabul. [28]
On February 21 2024, the AFF had announced that forces attacked a Taliban outpost in the centre of Parwan province, killing one Taliban member and injuring two other members. [29]
On April 11 2024, AFF leader Yasin Zia and NRF leader Ahmad Massoud held their joint meeting and discussed the future strategy. [30]
On April 17, 2024, the AFF resumed guerilla attacks against Taliban targets. [31]
On April 20, 2024, the AFF Claims to have killed 3 Members of Taliban's Intelligence Agency in Kabul's District 2. [32]
On April 29, 2024, the AFF Claims to have been killed 4 Members of Taliban and two others had been injured during the attack in Kabul's Qoway Markaz area. [33]
On May 18, 2024, the AFF claims that have been killed 3 members of Taliban in the Attack On Group Leader Guards near Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque in Kabul. [34]
On May 21, 2024, the AFF claims that have been killed 2 members of Taliban and another were injured during the Attack checkpoint of the group’s Ministry of Defence near Karte Naw area in Kabul. [35]
According to Voice of America, former Chief of General Staff Afghanistan General Yasin Zia is reported to be one of the AFF's leaders. [36] 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. [37]
AFF is also allied with National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan; [38] which is led by Field Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, Atta Mohammad Noor, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Ismail Khan and other prominent Afghan Pashtun/Tajik/Uzbek/Hazara politicians in exile.
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]