20 years on, the legacy of Afghanistan's "Lion of Panjshir" endures

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In the streets of Kabul, it is difficult to miss Ahmad Shah Massoud -- the revered guerrilla leader's face adorns billboards, murals and even T-shirts not only in tribute, but also resistance. His legacy as one of Afghanistan's most towering figures endures two decades after he was assassinated on September 9, 2001, by Al-Qaeda, whose Taliban allies were trying to defeat Massoud's forces. Dr. Weeda Mehran, Lecturer at the University of Exeter, joins France 24 to discuss the legacy of Commander Massoud. "He was a very successful military strategist, in many regards. He was a charismatic leader and also a patriot who became the icon of resistance in Afghanistan." He had become the most well-known commander in the country, successfully repelling the Soviet military in the 1980s and then the Taliban from his native Panjshir Valley. Dr. Mehran points out that "because of his prestigious name right now that a lot of people put their trust in his son (Panjshiri leader) Ahmad Massoud who is much younger and not experienced in the battlefield. Nonetheless, he carries that weight of his father's reputation."