Afghanistan marks Martyrs week for ex-resistance leader Masoud

Afghanistan on Wednesday marked Hafta-e-Shaheed or Martyrs week to commemorate Afghan national hero Ahmad Shah Masoud and pay tribute to all those who had lost their lives in the war against the 1979-89 military invasion of the former Soviet Union and the Taliban onslaught from 1994 till its collapse in late 2001.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in his message described the late Masoud as a great freedom fighter and national hero of the country, besides lauding his resistance against foreign invasions.

The president also noted that the enemies of Afghanistan have been attempting to weaken the country.

Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah recalled the performances of late Masoud and his Mujahideen or holy warriors at the ceremony held under a giant tent.

The Afghan government wanted co-existence with all its neighbors but not slavery, he said.

Although there is no official number of Afghans killed in the war against the erstwhile Soviet Union and the Taliban, it is believed that more than 2 million Afghans had been killed in the wars in Afghanistan over the past more than three decades.

The former resistance leader Ahmad Shah who had played vital role in defeating the former Soviet Union and blocking Taliban onslaught to capture Afghanistan was killed in a suicide attack conducted by three Arabs who disguised themselves as journalists during an interview in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province on Sept. 9, 2001. Endi