Last year, when I met with Ahmad Massoud, the son of Afghanistan’s national hero, Ahmad Shah Massoud, I asked him what he thought about the American-led peace negotiations with the Taliban. His response was telling, and surprisingly perceptive for the then 29-year old political neophyte:
“The Taliban have not stepped down from their demands,” he said. “If they agree to the basic demands of the Afghan people—that my daughter can vote, my mother can vote, that they have rights, that every religion is allowed to be practiced, if they recognize the importance of the parliament and political parties—then why not, come. But they must respect this system. We fought and we sacrificed thousands of lives for this.”
At that time, Massoud, bearing a striking resemblance to a young version of his father, had only recently arrived back in his native country, after years of exile and study in the U.K. Being back was still growing on him. He was, not surprisingly, under immense pressure to take up the mantle of his war-hero father.
Full article at Macleans
Article submitted by CPO1
