Both sides in Afghanistan start lobbying for US support
THE leader of one of Afghanistan’s most prominent anti-taliban fighting groups has hired a Washington lobbyist in a bid to gain recognition from the US.
The Taliban itself is also reportedly looking for a lobbyist to represent its interests in Washington.
Ahmad Massoud, the 32-year-old son of a famed mujahideen commander who led the fight against Soviet offensives in the 1980s, signed a contract this week with a key lobbying firm, records lodged with the Department of Justice show. Mr Massoud is currently leading the resistance to the Taliban from the north-eastern province of Panjshir.
He has sought the help of Robert Stryk, who set up CPG consultancy under the Donald Trump administration and gained a reputation for working with clients that others were wary of representing.
A spokesman for Mr Massoud told the New York Times he wanted to stop any move by the US and other governments to grant legitimacy to the Taliban – or anyone other than Mr Massoud – as the rightful leader of Afghanistan. The paper, quoting three lobbyists, reported that the Taliban has also been seeking representation on “K Street”, the area of the capital housing many lobby groups, as it seeks international funding and legitimacy.
However, it is unclear how such an arrangement could be structured to comply with sanctions expected to restrict the finances of the Taliban, which now heads the Afghan government but is considered a terrorist organisation by the US.
Mr Massoud and thousands of other National Resistance Front of Afghanistan fighters in the Panjshir Valley are surrounded by the Taliban and armed with dwindling supplies and no real outside support.
It came amid reports Lindsey Graham, the prominent Republican senator from South Carolina, has been working behind the scenes to build support in Washington foreign policy circles for Mr Massoud and Amrullah Saleh, former vice president in the toppled government, who last month proclaimed himself the country’s legitimate president.