In Afghanistan, where mountains bear witness to historic conflicts, the National Resistance Front (NRF) has emerged as a symbol of a new era. Since August 2021, when the Taliban captured Kabul and the former Republic collapsed, it became clear to the people of this country that a change in power would not always bring peace. On the contrary, new conflicts arose – the roles of insurgents and counter-insurgents had reversed. The Taliban, once insurgents themselves, now fight to maintain power, while the NRF, formed from the remnants of the former Northern Alliance, has become their greatest internal threat. This is not just a story of attacks and casualties but also of a nation’s efforts to rise again, where every step comes at the cost of blood.

The Roots of Resistance: From the 1990s to 2021

The story of the National Resistance Front begins at the heart of Afghanistan’s history. During the 1990s, when the Taliban first seized power, Ahmad Shah Massoud – known as the “Lion of Panjshir” – was their greatest opponent. Massoud, a model of mujahideen resistance, stood against the Taliban’s hardline rule. On September 10, 2001, he was assassinated by al-Qaeda operatives, just one day before the 9/11 attacks. His death paved the way for the Taliban’s downfall, but his son, Ahmad Massoud, became the keeper of his legacy.

After August 15, 2021, when the Taliban regained power, Panjshir remained the only province outside their control. Ahmad Massoud, now leading from Tajikistan, formed the National Resistance Front. This group comprised former Republic soldiers, police, and civilians who stood against the Taliban’s illegitimate rule. In the early days, an uprising in Baghlan’s Andarab region forced Taliban forces to retreat, but the Taliban quickly sent reinforcements and gained control over major settlements. However, remote mountainous areas remained insecure – becoming hotbeds of insurgency.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) stated in its report that the NRF is the largest of the former Republic’s groups, primarily active in Panjshir province northeast of Kabul, though many other groups have also declared themselves. The conflict with the Taliban dates back to the 1990s, but after August 2021, the roles reversed – the NRF became the insurgents.

Surge in Attacks in the Summer of 2022: From Decades Past to Now

Since then, NRF activities have been relatively limited but growing. In the spring of 2022, the pace of NRF attacks surpassed those of the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISKP), increasing through the summer. Over a dozen attacks were carried out weekly, primarily hit-and-run operations, ambushes on remote Taliban checkpoints, and, rarely, assassinations of Taliban officials using improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

In Andarab, NRF fighters have gained limited capacity to confront Taliban security forces but retreat to mountain strongholds when reinforcements arrive. In Panjshir, they have maintained covert positions in the mountains but have so far failed to hold a single district. Their activities are concentrated in Panjshir, Parwan, Kapisa, Baghlan, and Kabul.

From March 2024 to March 2025, the NRF claimed to have conducted 401 targeted operations across 19 provinces, killing 651 Taliban fighters and injuring 579 others. In Kabul alone, 126 attacks weakened the Taliban’s presence. These operations spanned Kabul, Parwan, Kapisa, Panjshir, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Herat, Farah, Ghor, Badghis, Nuristan, Balkh, Sar-e Pol, Faryab, Nimroz, Maidan Wardak, and Logar. The NRF’s fighters have taken care to protect civilians, demonstrating the integrity of their struggle.

In the early months of 2025, activities intensified. In March, two Taliban fighters were killed and two injured in Takhar. In Herat, three Taliban intelligence members were killed. In April, sustained attacks occurred in Baghlan, Kunduz, Badghis, and Farah – such as a rocket attack on a police center in Khost district, which killed two Taliban fighters and destroyed a Humvee. In Kunduz, two were killed and four injured in the second security zone. In Badghis, a Taliban figure named Mullah Hamidullah was killed, and weapons were seized. In Farah, an attack on a post of the Al-Farouq Corps’ First Battalion’s Second Brigade killed one and injured two.

The NRF’s leader, Ahmad Massoud, stated in a February 2025 interview that they are fighting for Afghanistan’s future and will end the Taliban’s rule. He emphasized that the NRF is the Taliban’s largest non-extremist opponent, led by the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud.

Attack in September: Killing of Three Taliban Fighters in Herat’s Guzara

On September 13, 2025 (22 Sunbula, 1404), a significant event occurred in Herat’s Guzara district. At 8:30 PM, NRF forces attacked Taliban fighters along the Herat-Pashtun Zarghun road, near a police training center. Three Taliban members from the Al-Farouq Corps’ reconnaissance unit were killed, and two weapons and a motorcycle were seized. The NRF claimed no harm came to their forces or civilians.

This attack exemplifies the NRF’s targeted operations against Taliban supplies and weapons. Two days later, on September 14, the NRF’s official Twitter account and supporters like @TKCkhyber and @Chritchen publicized the event, receiving numerous likes and retweets. This attack demonstrates the NRF’s growing influence in western provinces like Herat, previously focused in the north.

This incident followed other recent attacks. In January 2025, the NRF claimed 22 attacks in one month, killing over 60 Taliban fighters. While the Taliban denies these claims, United Nations reports indicate an increase in anti-Taliban attacks in 2024.

Analysts’ Views: IS-KP and NRF as Major Threats

Analysts of Afghanistan’s ongoing conflicts state that IS-KP and the NRF currently pose the greatest threats to the Taliban. The NRF is highly active in northern regions, particularly Baghlan, with thousands of fighters – a potential major challenge in the future. The British government’s August 2025 report noted that while the Taliban announced amnesty for former government officials, groups like the NRF remain active and threaten their complete control.

The U.S. Congress, in its March 2025 report on Afghanistan’s security situation, stated that while the Taliban holds power, internal resistance like the NRF remains a persistent issue. At a Harvard University event in April 2025, the NRF’s foreign relations head, Ali Maisam Nazari, spoke about their fight against the Taliban. The Orion Policy Institute reported in October 2024 that the NRF is growing against both Taliban rule and Pakistani influence.

However, some analysts, like the Jamestown Foundation in 2023, argued that the NRF had failed to create significant unrest against the Taliban, though 2025 activities are changing this perception. The EUAA noted in 2023 that the NRF formed after the Taliban’s takeover and remains active. The Victoria Institute stated in August 2025 that the NRF is active in 20 provinces, posing a growing threat to the Taliban’s complete control.

Conclusion: How Big a Challenge?

The National Resistance Front poses a significant challenge to the Taliban – not only militarily but also politically and morally. With thousands of fighters, operations in 20 provinces, and efforts to gain international support (e.g., with Pakistan), the resistance is set to persist. While the Taliban maintains power, the NRF’s attacks dismantle their dream of complete control. As Ahmad Massoud says, “We are fighting for Afghanistan’s future.” This story is far from over – it is merely the beginning of a new era, where the mountains will once again witness the struggle for freedom.