Amrullah Saleh: “I Supported the Use of Landmines Against the Taliban”

Kokcha News Agency – In a detailed note marking the fourth anniversary of the collapse of the Afghan Republic, former Vice President Amrullah Saleh disclosed that he was a staunch supporter of using landmines against the Taliban. Saleh argued that one of the main reasons for the security forces’ failure was the absence of landmines, which he described as a significant weakness of the Republic’s forces.

Saleh explained that Afghanistan had previously signed the Mine Ban Treaty, which restricted the use of landmines. He also mentioned that his proposal to deploy landmines was met with opposition from NATO and the U.S. Ultimately, just ten days before the fall of Kabul, then-President Ashraf Ghani ordered the activation of landmine production facilities.

In his note, Saleh also highlighted his support for purchasing drones and mentioned that he had even arranged a meeting with a Turkish company for this purpose. However, due to his limited authority as vice president, he was unable to make direct decisions. Saleh added that he was in favor of arming the population and creating neighborhood resistance, but some viewed these actions as contrary to peace, without specifying who opposed them.

Saleh dismissed accusations from some critics that Ghani was not in favor of resistance and had “surrendered Afghanistan to the Taliban.” He claimed that those who alleged they were ready to resist but were not supported by Ghani were lying. Saleh also recalled that Ghani did not reject any requests from those claiming to resist and that on August 15, 2021, Ghani left Kabul for his ancestral village in Panjshir, where he began organizing the fight against the Taliban.

Saleh emphasized his continued opposition to the Taliban, stating that there are still sufficient resources to prevent the Taliban from gaining legitimacy and that the Taliban cannot claim stability. He also accused the media of being funded by the West, particularly the U.S. embassy, to portray the government, especially Ghani, as an obstacle to peace.

In his note, Saleh addressed the limitations of his authority as vice president, explaining that while he had the experience and energy for broader actions, he did not have direct command over the forces. He now blames no one but himself for these limitations, admitting that he should have protested the lack of authority at the time.

Overall, Saleh’s note presents a different narrative of the roles played by Ghani and himself during the collapse of the Republic, indirectly pointing to the lack of coordination among the Republic’s forces and external pressures. It suggests that the fall of the Republic was not solely due to internal inefficiency but also operational limitations and international pressures.