Afghans commemorate Massoud death anniversary

Five years after his death, the iconic image of Afghan guerrilla fighter commander Massoud looms over his fellow countrymen. Government leaders including President Hamid Kharzai attended a military parade at a stadium in Kabul to commemorate the commander. He was killed in a suicide attack two days before the September the 11th attacks in the United States. Karzai declared that due to Massoud’s sacrifice Aghanistan had become free.

Ahmad Shah Massoud, known as the “Lion of Panshir,” came to prominence during the war against the Soviet invasion in the 1980s. Later he was a focus of resistance against the fundamentalist Taliban regime. Almost five years after their removal from power in an American backed assault, Taliban fighters continue to battle with government forces and NATO troops in the south of the country.

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