Afghan Opposition Marks Nowruz With Renewed Calls To Resist Taliban Rule

Several Afghan opposition leaders used Nowruz to urge unity and resistance against the Taliban. They called for an end to “tyranny and oppression” and pledged to work towards a democratic and inclusive government.

Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president and leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, said in his Nowruz message that “the patience of the people has run out.” He added that national and international efforts to confront the Taliban are underway and that “strategic plans” are being prepared.

“We will overcome these hardships, end the suffering that has overshadowed our nation, and establish a national government based on freedom and inclusivity,” Dostum stated.

Former vice president Amrullah Saleh also vowed that toppling the Taliban would remain his priority in the new year. He said that Afghanistan under Taliban rule would never achieve dignity, unity, or economic stability. “To build a post-Taliban Afghanistan, we must remain hopeful and prepare ourselves more thoroughly,” he added.

The Justice and Freedom Party, led by Sarwar Danish, said Afghanistan is going through the “darkest days of its history.” The party expressed hope that the new year would bring freedom and justice.

The Jamiat-e-Islami Party, led by former foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani, condemned the Taliban’s ban on Nowruz. In a statement, the party said the Taliban had turned a day of celebration into one of sorrow and repression. It called for the establishment of a democratic and just government.

Ahmad Massoud, leader of the National Resistance Front, said Nowruz represents a commitment to resistance. “This day is not just a celebration but a commitment—our commitment to stand firm and never retreat from the path to freedom,” he wrote on social media. He added that the fight against the Taliban keeps “the hope of spring and freedom alive.”

Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, criticised the Taliban’s human rights record. He said Afghans have the right to live in peace like other nations but are instead faced with insecurity and fear.

Nowruz, which marks the Solar Hijri New Year, has been celebrated for centuries across Afghanistan and the wider region. This year, it falls on Friday, 21 March, marking the start of the year 1404 in the Solar Hijri calendar.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have banned public celebrations of Nowruz and removed it as an official holiday. Despite this, many Afghans still observe the occasion in cities across the country.