Commander Ahmad Massoud

My first strategy was an emotional uprising in the face of a huge tragedy, which was my own sacrifice.

On 15th of August, Sean, when I was in Kabul, I gave that long thought, because before that we tried everything.

with the regional countries, with the Western countries, with Afghanistan government to prevent the catastrophe, I wasn't successful.

So when I knew all is lost, I knew the only thing that can be saving us, it is a national uprising by all people of Afghanistan against a very small group called Taliban.

To do it, I needed to empower people in a way.

The only thing was a thirst for revenge.

And that could happen only if they could see a very, so to say, a painful tragedy.

And so my first strategy was to go to Panjshir Valley, defend till the very last minute, and have a very, how to say,

a crazy end to give your life, die in the most painful way, being bombed, being destroyed and shattered.

Maybe within that tragedy and that sacrifice, it would give my people a reason to rise.

And because I knew Afghan people are very much wanting it, but they needed hope.

Because they felt lonely.

They were hopeless.

They feel abandoned.

And they have fought against the Taliban for many years.

And also there has been war going on in Afghanistan for many decades.

So they were very much tired and they were lonely and hopeless.

So I needed to give them something.

Unfortunately,

Unfortunately, many things happened that luckily I didn't die.