Afghanistan Freedom Front

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]

Afghanistan Freedom Front
جبههَ آزادی افغانستان (Dari)
د افغانستان د ازادۍ جبهه (Pashto)
Dates of operation12 March 2022[1] – present
Active regionsNationwide across Afghanistan
IdeologyAnti-Taliban
Federalism
National conservatism
StatusActive
Allies National Resistance Front[2]
Mehdi Mujahid's Hazara militia
Opponents Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Battles and warsAfghanistan conflict (1978–present)
Websitehttps://freedom-front.com/

The AFF has reportedly tried to recruit pro-NRF fighters, putting in perspective the NRF's appeal being limited to Tajiks and pro-Jamiat e Islami groups.[4]

History

In March 2022, the AFF announced its formation to the public via social media.[5]

On 14 April, the AFF reported that its fighters have engaged Taliban forces simultaneously in Badakhshan, Baghlan, Kandahar, Parwan, Takhar, Laghman and Samangan.[6]

On 5 July, 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, AFF claimed its fighters attacked the Taliban Security Command in Kabul and killed two Taliban fighters.[11]

On 12 April, 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, 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, the AFF conducted an attack in Baglan province, resulting in two Taliban deaths and four injuries.[16]

On 4 July, the AFF announced the killing of a Taliban member and the injuring of three other members in Kapisa Province.[17]

On August 9, 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, 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, the AFF claimed they killed two Taliban fighters in Kabul's Shakardara district.[23] September 3, the AFF reported two Taliban fighters killed in Laghman province.[24]

Leadership

According to Voice of America, Yasin Zia is reported to be one of the leaders.[25] 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.[26]

Locations

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]

References
  1. Bureau, N. V. I. (12 March 2022). "New outfit Afghanistan Freedom Front vows to end Taliban's 'tyrant rule'". Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. O'Connor, Tom; Khaled, Fatma (30 August 2022). "A Year After U.S. Exit, Afghan rebel groups are waging war on Taliban rule". Newsweek.
  3. "Afghan resistance accuses Taliban of crimes and torture in Panjshir". PIME Asia News. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  4. "Afghanistan's Security Challenges under the Taliban". 12 August 2022.
  5. Kapur, Roshni. "New anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan: Genesis of a low-intensity conflict?". Orf.
  6. "ACLED Regional Overview - South Asia and Afghanistan (2-8 April 2022) - Afghanistan | ReliefWeb".
  7. "Six Taliban Members Killed in Alleged Missile Attack by Liberation Front on Bagram Airport - Hasht-e Subh Daily". 8am.af. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  8. "Taliban Operations in Baghlan Repelled, Says Afghanistan Freedom Front".
  9. "Key Commander of the Taliban Killed in Kandahar". 6 October 2022.
  10. "Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) Detonate an IED on Taliban (IEA) Forces, Killing 3, PD 5, Kabul". 10 March 2023.
  11. Subh, Hasht-E. (30 March 2023). "AFF Claims Killing Two Fighters in Attack on Taliban Security Command in Kabul". Hasht-e Subh Daily. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. "Anti-Taliban armed front yet to confirm the death of its senior commander Akmal Ameer". 12 April 2023.
  13. "Afghanistan Freedom Front confirms the death of Akmal Ameer". 16 April 2023.
  14. https://kabulnow.com/2023/05/afghanistan-freedom-front-claims-killing-three-taliban-fighters-in-rocket-attack/
  15. https://kabulnow.com/2023/05/afg-freedom-front-claims-killing-two-taliban-members-in-kabul-2/
  16. "در حمله جبهه آزادی در بغلان چندین عضو طالبان مجروح شدند". ایندیپندنت فارسی (in Persian). 5 June 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  17. "AFF Announces Killing Taliban Member in Kapisa Province". Afghanistan International. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  18. https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-4-taliban-members-in-badakhshan-province/
  19. https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-5-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  20. https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-6-taliban-members-in-baghlan-province/
  21. https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-10-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  22. https://kabulnow.com/2023/08/aff-claims-killing-and-injuring-8-taliban-members-in-parwan-amid-rise-in-attacks/
  23. https://kabulnow.com/2023/09/afghanistan-freedom-front-claims-to-have-killed-two-taliban-members-in-kabul/
  24. https://kabulnow.com/2023/09/aff-claims-killing-two-taliban-forces-in-laghman-province/
  25. "Afghan 'Fighting Season' Ushers in New Anti-Taliban Groups".
  26. "Afghan Resistance Leaders See 'No Option' but War".


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