ISLAMABAD: The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan has reportedlyclaimed responsibility for shooting down a drone operating in Afghanairspace. The incident, if confirmed, would underscore foreign involvementin surveillance operations over Afghanistan and raise questions aboutregional security dynamics. However, there has been no independentverification of the claims of shooting down the drone.
The National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendaryanti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, has been actively engaged inguerrilla warfare since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Composed primarilyof former Afghan security forces and ethnic minorities including Tajiks andHazaras, the NRF operates mainly from the rugged terrains of Panjshir andnorthern provinces. Recent reports indicate the group has expanded itsreach to over 19 provinces with targeted operations.
According to analyses from independent observers, the NRF conducted around401 operations between March 2024 and March 2025, claiming to haveeliminated hundreds of Taliban fighters. These actions include ambushes,assassinations of key commanders, and disruptions in urban areas likeKabul. The group’s decentralized structure allows regional commanders tooperate autonomously, making it difficult for Taliban forces to fullysuppress the resistance.
The alleged downing of the Heron drone, a medium-altitude long-enduranceunmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries andwidely used by the Indian armed forces, suggests potential external supportor reconnaissance activities in Afghanistan. India has historicallyprovided aid to anti-Taliban elements during the previous republic era,including military equipment and training. However, no officialconfirmation from Indian authorities has emerged regarding drone operationsin Afghan territory.Taliban spokespersons have dismissed many NRF claims aspropaganda, asserting full control over the country.
Yet, independent monitoring groups note persistent low-intensity conflictsin northeastern provinces like Takhar and Badakhshan, where localdefections from Taliban ranks to the NRF have been reported. Thesedefections often stem from ethnic tensions, as many northern Talibanfighters are Tajiks disillusioned with Pashtun-dominated leadership.TheNRF’s strategy focuses on hit-and-run tactics rather than holdingterritory, preserving forces while inflicting sustained casualties on theTaliban. Experts estimate the group fields between 2,000 to 5,000 fighters,drawing from former Afghan National Army personnel skilled in conventionalwarfare.
This expertise enables sophisticated operations, including potentialanti-air capabilities if the drone claim holds true.Regional implicationsare profound, as Afghanistan remains a flashpoint for proxy influences.Pakistan has accused the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistani militants,leading to border clashes and airstrikes. Some analysts suggest shiftingalliances, with reports of tacit understandings between certain actors andresistance groups against common threats.
Humanitarian concerns compound the security situation, with millions facingacute food insecurity amid ongoing violence. The United Nations hasdocumented civilian casualties from clashes, including collectivepunishments in resistance strongholds like Panjshir. Women’s rights andeducation continue to deteriorate under Taliban rule, fueling domesticopposition.International engagement with the NRF remains limited, with thegroup advocating for a decentralized democratic system through forums likethe Vienna Process. Leader Ahmad Massoud has called for coordinated supportagainst extremism, positioning the NRF as a non-Islamist alternative toTaliban governance.
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As the insurgency persists into 2026, the alleged drone incident couldsignal heightened technological warfare in Afghanistan’s fragmentedlandscape. Verification of such claims remains challenging due torestricted access and competing narratives from involved parties.
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationalResistanceFrontofAfghanistan
Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban, National Resistance Front, Ahmad Massoud
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