The 18th of Sunbula marks the 23rd anniversary of the death of Ahmad Shah Massoud, a prominent figure in the fight against the Soviet Red Army invasion.

Ahmad Shah Massoud, the son of Colonel Dost Mohammad Khan, was born on the 11th of Sunbula, 1332 of solar calendar (1953), in the Jangalak area of Panjshir province. After starting his education in Panjshir, he continued his studies in Herat and Kabul due to his father's job relocation and eventually completed high school at Lycée Esteqlal in Kabul.

In 1352 (1973), Massoud entered the Faculty of Engineering at Kabul Polytechnic University by passing the university entrance exam. In the same year, he officially joined the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan and, in the summer of 1354 (1975), led the first uprising in Panjshir against the government of the time.

"He fought alongside other prominent figures of that time, and the Mujahideen from all ethnicities and sects were involved there," said Hadi Quraishi, a military analyst.

After leaving his studies, Ahmad Shah Massoud continued his jihad against the Soviet forces. 

This jihadist figure declared a ceasefire with the Russians to achieve peace, which gave him the opportunity to establish the "Shura-e Nazar," an alliance of Afghan Mujahideen military groups that became one of the strongest military and guerrilla formations against the Soviets.

"They waged jihad against the Soviet Union, which wanted to occupy Afghanistan. Many were killed in Afghanistan, many Muslims were martyred," said Zakiullah Mohammadi, a university professor.

Former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation in the previous government, said on the 23rd anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud's death that his method of struggle, his constant presence among the people, and his ability to mobilize them made him a distinguished figure in Afghanistan's jihad. They also noted that he had a deep understanding of the country's ethnic and religious diversity and always sought to unite the Afghan people around common national and public interests.

"Ahmad Shah Massoud, like other Afghan jihadist commanders, played a role in the jihad, and some people have a positive view of him," said Aziz Maarej, a former diplomat.

Ahmad Shah Massoud was killed 23 years ago today, on the 18th of Sunbula, 1380 of solar year (2001), in an explosion in the Khwaja Bahauddin district of Takhar province.