Ahmad Masoud pledges allegiance to the "Islamic Emirate"

A field officer in the Haqqani Network announced that the son of Ahmad Shah Masoud pledged allegiance to the "Islamic Emirate" declared by the "Taliban".

The Movement's Haqqani Network also added that the pledge of Masoud's son came after talks with Abdullah Abdullah - Afghanistan's former Chief Executive - and Anas Haqqani, a Taliban leader.

Masoud's sources did not confirm this claim.

مصادر في طالبان تقول أن #أحمد_مسعود نجل القائد أحمد شاه مسعود قد بايع حركة #طالبان الأفغانية #كابل. pic.twitter.com/I085EBhgAX
— خالد الجهني (@KhaledEljuhani) August 21, 2021

Ahmad Masoud is the son of late Afghan Leader Ahmad Shah Masoud, who led the Northern Alliance forces in the fight against the Soviets in the 80s and the Taliban Movement in the 90s.

Ahmad Shah Masoud's son has lived abroad since his father was assassinated in 2001, spending many years in Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, and finishing his high school studies in Iran and his university and military studies in the UK.

After the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in August, Masoud joined resigned President Ghani's VP, Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself president, refusing the movement's rule.

Masoud had earlier stated, "We mourn our leader, Ahmad Shah Masoud, who fought the Taliban until his final moments in life," adding that "we do not want a treaty or a deal with the Taliban, and we will fight them to the end."

Forces opposing the Taliban in the north of Afghanistan, which Masoud is presumed to be part of, announced earlier today that they gained control of three areas close to Panjshir valley.

Defense Minister General Bismillah Mohammadi, who pledged to fight the Taliban, tweeted that the areas of Dah Saleh, Pol Hesar, and Banoo in Baghlan, which neighbors the north of Panjshir, are now under his forces' control.

مقاومت علیه طالبان تروریست بر هر یک ما فرض است #ولسوالی های پل حصار، ده صلاح و بنو در بغلان به تصرف نیروهای مقاومت مردمی درآمده است.
مقاومت هنوز زنده است.
— General Bismillah Mohammadi (@Muham_madi1) August 20, 2021

Ahmad Masoud's pledge comes as the Taliban are making efforts to form a new government, and only a few hours after the Movement's number two man, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrived in Kabul for talks with the Movement leaders and other politicians regarding the government formation.

On Friday, a Taliban Spokesperson, Suhail Shaheen, confirmed that "forming an Afghan government will not only include Taliban leaders, but also other politicians.” He also pointed out that consultations are currently underway to this end and that this government, consisting of both sides, must move ahead, declaring that it will be announced soon.