Thirty-two years ago today, after a 14-year battle, the mujahideen overthrew the government of Dr. Najibullah and seized power.
The day, known as Saur 8, has been celebrated in Afghanistan’s history ever since. On this date in 1992, various Mujahideen groups entered Kabul, toppling the last government backed by the former Soviet Union.
The Taliban, currently governing Afghanistan, referred to Saur 8 as the day of freedom, victory, and success for the Afghan people and held a conference in Kabul on Saturday to celebrate the occasion.
However, during the event, the Taliban’s deputy Minister of Vice and Virtue claimed that the U.S. had created seven jihadist organizations to achieve its objectives and then fostered division among them.
Abdullah Abdullah, the former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, remarked that the “Jihad of the people of Afghanistan against the former Soviet Union is unforgettable.”
Meanwhile, the Resistance Front, in a statement on the 32nd anniversary, said that the people of Afghanistan have been under oppression and violence for nearly three years, with the country becoming a prison under Taliban rule.
However, some citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing power struggles among the Mujahideen groups, citing that Afghanistan experienced civil wars following the Soviet Union’s withdrawal and the collapse of Dr. Najibullah’s government.
“The Mujahideen reached power, and Afghanistan plunged into misery. The civil war happened. Many people were migrated, and many were killed and wounded. The misery in Afghanistan originated from the civil war,” said Ziaulhaq, a citizen.
Nisar Ahmad Shirzai, a political analyst, believes that Saur 8 opened the door for significant plots by major intelligence powers in Afghanistan. “Due to Saur 8, the organized military, administrative, and education systems of Afghanistan have been sabotaged,” he said.
Some analysts also believe that Saur 8 paved the way for the rise of the Taliban, who are currently enforcing their repressive policies.
