The Lion of Panjshir

Ahmad Shah Massoud , born in the Panjshir valley, also known as the Lion of Panjshir is considered to have been one of the greatest military strategists and charismatic leaders of the second half of the 20th Century. He was known as a natural leader of men, clear sighted and a visionary.

The Panjshir fields

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support the collapsing communist regime which gave birth to a group of freedom fighters who came to be known as the mujahideen. When the Russians left Afghanistan, fighting between factional groups led to civil war.  The Taliban, sponsored and financed by Pakistan, came with the promise of peace and control which soon appeared to be untrue. Massoud and other mujahideen formed an alliance and swore to free their land from this invading force.
Massoud's appeal for help from the west fell on deaf ears. He overestimated his strength and marched on Kabul only to be forced into the northeast corner of Afghanistan maintaining 5%-10% control of the country.

Drive up to Panjshir

In August, I made a road trip to the great Panjshir Valley. The terrain is similar to Kashmir and Ladakh. Many moments during our drive I had to remind myself that it was Afghanistan and not India. The charging river that turns into a torrent in the summer along with the irrigated wheat and maize fields and walnut and mulberry groves make for a very picturesque landscape.

Drive up to Panjshir

The Panjshir Valley

The Tajiks are very proud people and hold high regard for Massoud. It is one of the most safe provinces in the country and is often see as a model province. Massoud united the Tajiks, earned trust from his people by not suppressing them and not forcing them to adopt a lifestyle unlike the government in power. Freedom to his people to express, tolerance and moderation kept his people loyal to him and safe from the Taliban.  Massoud, however, was no saint, he was a warlord, killed many civilians, his reputation undoubtedly is controversial.











Massoud was assassinated on September 9 2001, two days before 9/11. Rumour has it that he was killed by Al-qaeda as he would have been the most potential ally of the international forces to fight the Taliban.

Massoud's Tomb in the distance

It was hard to leave Panjshir and return to Kabul that evening. I was in heaven in the middle of war-torn Afghanistan. I will never know Massoud and I am no authority to decide or claim whether he is a hero or not. Afghanistan is a complex country and there can't be a simple hero. We all need a hero to believe in and Massoud became that belief for his people.  If you live your beliefs you can turn the world around. Massoud could not turn his country around, but he protected the Panjshir valley and his Tajik people.

Eulogy for Ahmad Shah Massoud "Bitter Fruit Falling" by Khalilullah Khalili

 I am the bitter fruit falling upon the earth.
 Thus in the clutches of time I remain.
 O spring of liberty! Your grace, what else it could be
 But to render this bitter fruit sweet?
 The greatest wealth of this world is the company of friends,
 The agony of death:
 Separation from them,
 But since they are all together, the friends,
 Resting deep in the heart of the dust,
 What difference does it make
 Whether alive or dead.
 Out of pain and sorrow destiny has molded me.
 What, Alas, has been my joy from the cup of life?
 Like a candle burning in the blowing wind,
 I tremble, I burn, ... I die.

(translated from the original Dari) 

Massoud's Panjshir