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Interview with Ahmad Shah Massoud
Takhar Province, Afghanistan
Fall, 1991

Interviewer: If the United States and Russian military support stops, what effect will this have on the Mujahideen and the Kabul regime?

Massoud: Bism-Allah, a-Rahman a-Rahim. In my opinion, if the United States stops its support for the Afghan freedom fighters, it would be a great mistake. The Soviets cannot continue to support the Kabul regime without an extension of their military contract; as a result, it is only a matter of time before the Kabul regime collapses, or they decide to listen to the request of the Afghan people and give up power. Without the support from the United States to the Mujahideen, the Kabul regime will get a boost in morale and the war will be prolonged.

Interviewer: You started your jihad with little support and few resources; is it possible for you to continue your struggle with the same lack of support and resources?

Massoud: It is clear to everyone that Shura-e-Nizar received the least amount of military supplies and support from the West, but we continued our struggle. If the United States’ support for the Mujahideen stops, it will have a negative impact on the Mujahideen as a whole, but the actual impact on Shura-e-Nizar will be significantly less. Whatever happens, we will continue our struggle until the puppet regime in Kabul is removed from power.

Interviewer: What message do you have for Najib and the rest of the Communists in the Kabul regime?

Massoud: My message to Najib and the rest of the Communists in the Kabul regime is that they should leave power, and stop the killings and bloodshed.

Interviewer: What do you think about Communism and the atheistic Kabul regime? Your opinion?

Massoud: Communism is a flawed ideology.
In my belief, faith in God guides humanity to the righteous path and tells us that there is life after death and that everyone will answer to God for the deeds that they have done in this life.
Communism does not agree with this. This lack of belief in Divine Justice has contributed to Communist countries like Russia and China committing heinous crimes against humanity, massacring people by the thousands and by the millions, to being corrupt and to holding their people in bondage by armed force. We all know that basic human rights have been denied to the people of these countries and that their human dignity has been insulted.

Interviewer: What is the impact of an Islamic country on a Communist or unbelieving country?

Massoud: The impact of an Islamic country, if the Islamic country is genuine about its Islamic principles, will be positive, because these Islamic countries will encourage them towards a path of righteousness.

Interviewer: How do you see the future of a free Afghanistan?

Massoud: Inshah-Allah, we are hoping to inherit a free and stable Afghanistan in the near future, following Islamic principles, with the opportunity for the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and live in peace and harmony.

Interview with Ahmad Shah Massoud
Takhar Province, Afghanistan
Fall, 1991
Interview conducted by Benjamin Pendleton
Translated into Dari and read by an unknown Afghan
Translated back into English by Omair Kazim, 2011
Proofread and revised by Sharif Basharyar, 2011
To verify the authenticity of this interview, contact benjaminpendleton@gmail.com

Comments on the interview: This interview with Massoud took place on my second trip to Afghanistan, my first trip being to Paktia and Loghar Provinces in the Fall of 1983. Both trips were arranged by the Committee for a Free Afghanistan of Washington, D.C. and were entirely self-funded. I was acting independently of any governmental agency or private news organization.
The unknown Afghan who translated the interview into Dari and read it to Massoud was the guide of a German cameraman who I met in Taloqan. Pashtu, not Dari, was his first language, which caused some confusion during the interview, as can be heard in the original audio; because of this, Question #5 was more or less botched. In my opinion, Massoud’s views on Communism and religion are by far the most interesting part of the interview; I hope that they will be of use to future historians.
This interview was first made public after I presented a copy of it to Hajji Rashoudin Mohammadi, Massoud’s brother in law, in 2006. It was first translated into English in 2011; many thanks to Omair Kazim and Sharif Basharyar for their translating efforts.
To receive a copy of this interview in the original Dari, contact benjaminpendleton@gmail.com.

Salaam, Friends!

In the Fall of 1991, in Takhar Province, Afghanistan, I had the great privilege of meeting, interviewing and photographing Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of the Panjshir, an amazing man who fought honorably and courageously for decades against the Afghan Communists, the Soviet Union, corrupt Afghan warlords, the Taliban, the Pakistani ISI and al-Qaeda.These never-before published photographs are now available for you to view and purchase.

If you are interested in the possibility of using these photographs free of charge to honor the memory of Ahmad Shah Massoud (for charitable/non-profit purposes), please feel free to contact me at benjaminpendleton@gmail.com. It would be my pleasure to assist you in your efforts.

Please do be advised that all photographs displayed are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

I sincerely hope that you enjoy these photographs of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of the Panjshir!

Khoda Hafez! May God Protect You!

Ben Pendleton