Afghan Freedom Front Challenges Taliban Control Amid Growing Armed Resistance

KABUL: Armed opposition groups in Afghanistan are continuing to challenge the Taliban government’s control in different parts of the country, with Afghan Freedom Front leader and former Afghan army chief General Yasin Zia saying the resistance movement is gaining momentum.

Zia said the armed resistance against the Taliban was producing results and that the security situation was increasingly becoming difficult for the authorities to control.

He argued that the Taliban were relying on what he described as supportive groups and propaganda networks to defend their image and counter criticism of their rule.

According to Zia, certain groups were attempting to frighten Afghans by warning of uncertainty and instability after the Taliban, while he argued that the current government itself represented a severe situation for the country.

He also criticised the Taliban’s economic and development policies, alleging that corruption had taken place in infrastructure projects, including road construction.

Zia questioned how a government could justify its authority while facing accusations of customs-related corruption and robbery along major highways.

He argued that if a government facing such allegations could rule the country, there was no reason to prevent educated and qualified Afghans from taking part in governance.

Defence analysts cited in the discussion said resistance fronts operating inside Afghanistan were challenging the Taliban’s narrative of having complete control over the country.

They said continued attacks and armed activity had raised questions over the extent of the Taliban’s authority in some areas.

Security experts also pointed to the emergence of opposition movements both inside Afghanistan and among groups based abroad, saying these developments could challenge Taliban claims of broad public support and complete control.

The growing activity of armed opposition groups comes as the Taliban government continues to face criticism over security, governance and economic conditions.

The Taliban have maintained that they have established security across Afghanistan and brought the country under central control, while opposition groups continue to dispute that assessment.

The conflicting narratives highlight the continuing political and security tensions surrounding Afghanistan’s current governing structure.

For opponents of the Taliban, the persistence of armed resistance demonstrates that challenges to the regime have not disappeared. For the Taliban, maintaining control over territory while preventing opposition groups from expanding their operations remains a major security priority.

The true scale and impact of the resistance remain difficult to assess independently, but the continued activity of opposition fronts suggests that Afghanistan’s post-Taliban political and security landscape remains contested.