The Lion of Panjshir

We are four days away from the anniversary of the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud, one of Afghanistan's greatest national heroes. Massoud, also known as the Lion of Panjshir, was a graduate of Kabul University who formed what would later be referred to as the "Northern Alliance" and became one of the leading figures in the Soviet-Afghan War. He also helped to form the short-lived coalition government of Mujahiddin leaders that was ousted by the Taliban in 1996. During the Taliban regime, which controlled the most of the country from 1996-2001, Massoud continued his resistance and, against all odds, never ceded control of his ethnic homeland in the Panjshir Valley. In what is generally seen as al-Qaeda's setup to the September 11 hijackings, Massoud was murdered by al-Qaeda operatives on September 9, 2001.

What makes Massoud's story so interesting is that he was more than just a successful commander. In addition to being considered one of the brightest tactical minds in modern times and a national hero, Massoud was a moderate Muslim, devout reader, poet, and philosopher. The anniversary of his death is now a national holiday.

The picture above is of a billboard in the center of Mazar commemorating Massoud's life.