NRF commander Rubin Sattar says the resistance is expanding its guerrilla campaign and predicts that the Taliban will soon suffer major military setbacks.

In recent months, Taliban forces in northern Afghanistan, particularly in Badakhshan and Panjshir provinces, have faced frequent attacks by anti-Taliban groups including the National Resistance Front (NRF), the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), and the recently established Sipah-e-Mihan.

The Taliban has responded by increasing its deployments in restive areas and launching operations to track down resistance commanders. One such operation resulted in the death of Hasib Panjshiri, also known as Koye Markaz, the NRF’s operations commander, in an ambush by Taliban special forces in the Salang Valley.

Manish Rai, a geopolitical analyst specializing in the Af-Pak region, spoke with Rubin Sattar, Panjshiri’s former deputy and the current commander of the NRF’s Unit 01 special operations force. Since Panjshiri’s death, Sattar says his unit has carried out a series of attacks against Taliban forces, including an operation targeting a Taliban military hospital in Kabul. The NRF, Afghanistan’s largest anti-Taliban resistance group, is believed to have roughly 5,000 fighters, many of them former members of the Afghan National Army.

The following interview has been edited for clarity.

Manish Rai: The NRF recently suffered a major setback when its operations commander, Hasib Panjshiri, was killed in an ambush by Taliban special forces. Some analysts believe the organization will struggle to recover from the loss. How serious a blow is his death to the NRF?

Rubin Sattar: The loss of Commander Hasib Panjshiri is undoubtedly a major blow to all freedom fighters. Yet throughout history, the price of victory has always been sacrifice—a path on which the martyred Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud and dozens of other commanders laid down their lives.

The school of thought behind the National Resistance, founded by the National Hero, is not shaken by the loss of its commanders. Rather, their martyrdom sets an example for other fighters and freedom-seekers, making them more committed and more determined than ever to defeat the enemy and end oppression and tyranny. We can therefore say with certainty that we remain committed and stronger than before. The path of Commander Hasib Panjshiri continues.

Rai: Many NRF supporters, particularly in Panjshir, knew you as Hasib Panjshiri’s right-hand man. What did he mean to you personally, and how has Ahmad Shah Massoud shaped your own approach to the resistance?

Sattar: Commander Hasib Panjshiri was a dedicated and honourable mujahid who stood firm and fought not only against the Taliban over the past five years, but also—during the era of the Republic—against the business-suit-wearing backers of the Taliban. Hasib began his struggle against oppression and injustice long ago and ultimately sacrificed his life for this cause. He stands as a model of steadfastness and self-sacrifice for all of us in the pursuit of victory.

As for the National Hero, the martyred Ahmad Shah Massoud, his character is known throughout the world. He fought against a global superpower to defend his homeland and was later martyred while battling the Taliban and international terrorists. Our struggle is inspired by his ideology, and we will ultimately bring the path he bequeathed to us to fruition with honour.

Rai: Many resistance commanders are known by aliases. Hasib Panjshiri, for example, was also called Koye Markaz. Do you use a nom de guerre?

Sattar: My name is Rubin Sattar, and I do not use a pseudonym.

Rai: What are the NRF’s immediate military objectives?

Sattar: Our immediate objective is to consolidate our fighters and expand guerrilla operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan’s central and major provinces.

Rai: You hold the rank of marshal within the NRF. What are your responsibilities, and what can you disclose about the size and structure of the force under your command?

Sattar: I am responsible for Unit 01, an operational unit that conducts missions against specific Taliban targets in the capital and the provinces. Unit 01 is organized into urban guerrilla cells tasked with identifying targets and carrying out operations.

Rai: Your unit has recently claimed several high-profile attacks, including one targeting a Taliban military hospital in Kabul. Were these operations intended to avenge Hasib Panjshiri’s death, or do they form part of a broader military strategy?

Sattar: Our operations in Kabul are intended to challenge the Taliban and strike at its various structures. We plan them on the basis of thorough assessments and take every precaution to prevent civilian casualties.

Although the Taliban attempts to conceal its presence and the reality on the ground, resistance forces remain active in various locations and continue to carry out their plans. The Taliban will soon face major military setbacks.

Rai: How does the NRF view foreign investment in Afghanistan, particularly from China? Separately, recent media reports have alleged that some anti-Taliban groups receive support from Pakistan. Does the NRF receive Pakistani or other foreign backing?

Sattar: Investment and economic growth are vital to our society, and we strongly support any activity that genuinely contributes to the welfare and well-being of our people.

Under the current circumstances, however—given the rule of a terrorist group in Afghanistan and the lack of transparency surrounding revenue and expenditures—investment in or engagement with this group is not in the interest of any nation. The Taliban was founded on oppression and terror. It rejects human rights, denies women education and freedom, and has turned the country into a safe haven for terrorists.

Regarding international support for the Resistance Front, the NRF is a grassroots coalition of fighters drawn from Afghan society who are striving to liberate their homeland. No foreign nation holds sway over the Front, and its ideals and objectives remain unequivocal. The NRF leadership has repeatedly delivered a clear message to the international community, particularly neighbouring countries: Support the Afghan people in their struggle against terrorism and their effort to break free from the grip of terrorists.

The Taliban’s dominance in Afghanistan serves no nation’s interests. Its extremist ideology is taking root and expanding, and it will inevitably turn the country once again into a launchpad for terrorism across the region and beyond.