| Field commander Date of Birth: 02.09.1953 Country: Afghanistan |
Ahmad Shah Massoud was a field commander and military leader from Afghanistan who played a crucial role in the withdrawal of Soviet forces from the country. He was famously known as the 'Lion of Panjshir'.
Ahmad was born into the family of police officer Dost Mohammad in Bazarak, Panjshir, Afghanistan. He started school at the age of 5 and had to frequently change schools as his family moved due to his father's career advancement. Massoud was incredibly talented from a young age, mastering languages such as Persian, French, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto, English, and Arabic.
In 1972, while studying in Kabul, Massoud became involved in the activities of the "Organization of Young Muslims," a student division of the "Islamic Society." The movement aimed to counter the growing influence of communists, particularly after Daoud Khan came to power in 1973. Massoud was in charge of the Panjshir branch of the organization.
In 1975, a member of the organization named Gulbuddin Hekmatyar attempted to overthrow the Daoud government. Massoud, disappointed with Hekmatyar's failure, aligned himself with Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, the leader of the organization. The movement later split into factions led by Rabbani and fundamentalists led by Hekmatyar.
When Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, Massoud began planning to expel them and overthrow the communist regime. His first task was to create a guerrilla movement and defend the fortress of Panjshir. He then planned to launch attacks on enemy forces in the northern part of Afghanistan and ultimately liberate the entire country.
Massoud's activities attracted the attention and support of the United States. During President Reagan's era, this support developed into the official policy known as the "Reagan Doctrine." Massoud and his guerrilla fighters caused significant difficulties for Soviet troops, intercepting their convoys and causing fuel shortages.
In response, the Soviets sent a large force of 12,000 soldiers to Panjshir. Massoud had to retreat to neighboring valleys and his strongholds. The Soviet troops followed them and fell into an ambush. In 1983, the Soviets proposed a truce to Massoud, which he agreed to.
After the withdrawal of Soviet forces and the fall of the pro-Soviet government of Mohammad Najibullah, Massoud became the Minister of Defense of Afghanistan under President Burhanuddin Rabbani. After the fall of Rabbani's government and the rise of the Taliban, Massoud resumed his role as a field commander. He was best known at that time as the leader of the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan, also known as the Northern Alliance.
On September 9, 2001, two days before the attack on the World Trade Center, Massoud was assassinated in the Takhar province of Afghanistan. The killers, believed to be agents of Al-Qaeda, posed as journalists and hid explosives in their video cameras. Osama bin Laden later sent a videotape with a pre-death message and compensation for his death to one of the suicide bomber's wives.
Despite initial denials by representatives of the Northern Alliance, rumors of Massoud's death quickly spread worldwide. Two days later, however, the world received more significant news – the destruction of the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. It is believed that Massoud had warned about this threat in his speech to the European Parliament several months earlier.
After Massoud's death, many analysts predicted the imminent disintegration of the Northern Alliance. However, after the events of September 11, the United States began massive support for anti-Taliban movements in Afghanistan. On September 16, representatives of the movement officially acknowledged Massoud's death from injuries. A year later, Afghan President Hamid Karzai named Massoud a national hero, and the day of his death became a national holiday known as "Massoud Day."
Ahmad Shah Massoud was posthumously nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His wife, Sedika Massoud, and their children currently reside in Iran. Ahmad's son, also named Ahmad, followed in his father's footsteps and even became the Vice President of Afghanistan under Hamid Karzai. In late 2009, there was an assassination attempt on his life, but the attackers failed to succeed.
Massoud's body rests in a mausoleum in the Panjshir Valley. A new mausoleum is currently being built to honor his memory.