National Resistance Front of Afghanistan leader Ahmad Massoud has called for a political system in which Afghans can determine their future and choose their government through elections.
Massoud said Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada considers ruling through force and coercion to be legitimate. However, he argued that such an approach is incompatible with the modern world and the aspirations of the Afghan people.
According to Massoud, the ultimate objective of opponents of the Taliban should be to establish a system where the Afghan people have the right to decide their political future through their votes.
He reiterated his earlier position that he would accept the outcome of free and credible elections, regardless of who emerges victorious. Massoud specifically said that even if Hibatullah Akhundzada wins such an election, he would accept the result.
His comments highlight the continuing political dispute over Afghanistan’s system of governance following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The Taliban have not held nationwide elections to determine the country’s leadership and have instead established their own governing structure.
Massoud and other opposition figures have repeatedly called for an inclusive political process and greater participation of Afghans in determining the country’s future.
The NRF leader’s latest remarks present elections and public participation as a possible path toward resolving Afghanistan’s political crisis, while emphasizing that the legitimacy of any government should ultimately come from the people.