Amrullah Saleh, the former Afghan vice president and a key figure in the country’s anti-Taliban resistance, has emerged as a strong supporter of India amid rising tensions in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the brutal killing of 26 Indian tourists in Pahalgam on April 22 by Pakistan-backed militants, Amrullah Saleh’s outspoken condemnation of the attack and backing of India’s Operation Sindoor reflect his longstanding opposition to the Taliban and Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan. His continued resistance, despite exile, symbolizes a broader geopolitical struggle involving Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan.
Amrullah Saleh’s Role in Afghan Politics and Resistance
Amrullah Saleh, who previously served as Afghanistan’s spy chief and interior minister, became the country’s first vice president in 2020 under President Ashraf Ghani. His tenure was cut short when the Taliban swiftly took over Afghanistan in August 2021 after the U.S. military withdrawal. While Ghani fled the country, Amrullah Saleh relocated to the Panjshir Valley, the last bastion of anti-Taliban resistance. There, citing the Afghan constitution, he declared himself caretaker president and formed the National Resistance Front (NRF) alongside Ahmad Massoud to oppose Taliban rule. Despite this declaration, Amrullah Saleh’s presidency has not received international recognition. After the Taliban captured Panjshir in early September 2021, Amrullah Saleh fled to Tajikistan but continues to support resistance efforts from exile.
Known for surviving numerous assassination attempts, Amrullah Saleh’s resilience has earned him the nickname of having “nine lives” in global political circles.
Strategic Significance and Stance Against Pakistan
Amrullah Saleh remains a crucial figure in South Asian geopolitics due to his firm opposition to both the Taliban and Pakistan’s role in supporting cross-border terrorism. As a former intelligence chief and vice president, Amrullah Saleh has deep insights into the complex regional security dynamics. His historical ties with India, forged during anti-Taliban collaboration, position him as a natural ally of New Delhi. Amrullah Saleh has consistently accused Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of harboring terrorists and destabilizing Afghanistan, highlighting Islamabad’s support for the Taliban as an extension of its strategic goals.
Following the Pahalgam attack, Amrullah Saleh was among the first regional leaders to directly blame Pakistan, describing the attack as a publicity stunt by Pakistan’s military leadership. He contrasted India’s Operation Sindoor with Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan Ul Marsoos, praising India for its decisive and sovereign approach in bypassing the UN Security Council and treating terrorist groups and their state sponsors as a single entity. He also noted Pakistan’s economic struggles, citing its need for IMF assistance amid escalating tensions.
Amrullah Saleh’s ongoing vocal support for India, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack, challenges Pakistan’s military’s perceived invulnerability and reinforces the complex power dynamics in the region.
