Rahmatullah Andar, the former spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Security Council, voiced support for the Homeland Soldiers Front’s attack on Yaftal-e Payin district in Badakhshan province and urged Taliban supporters to “wake up” and openly declare their position.
In a post on X on Saturday, 18 July, Mr. Andar accused some critics of the recent attack on Yaftal-e Payin of effectively supporting the Taliban. According to him, those who criticize the operation by raising issues such as “foreign interference,” “opposition to war,” or the claim that “there is no alternative to the Taliban” are, in practice, siding with the group.
He further argued that these individuals remain silent when Pashtuns oppose the Taliban, but when anti-Taliban figures come from non-Pashtun communities, they adopt positions that ultimately benefit the Taliban.
Andar, who has a long record of opposing the Taliban, wrote in part of his statement: “If you want the Taliban to remain in power, then at least support them openly.”
Although he did not identify any specific individual or political faction, he described this approach as “double standards” and criticized it accordingly.
The Homeland Soldiers Front, which describes itself as one of the armed groups opposing the Taliban administration in Afghanistan, officially announced its existence after launching an attack on Yaftal-e Payin district in Badakhshan province and briefly taking control of the district for several hours early on Friday.
The operation generated widespread attention across Afghanistan’s political and media landscape. A number of former government officials and public figures welcomed it as a symbol of “resistance” and “standing up” to the Taliban, while others expressed critical views regarding the incident.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
