Third anniversary of the martyrdom of the Freedom Front in South Salang held in Tehran
Tehran — A number of Afghan citizens and civil activists living in Iran commemorated the third anniversary of the martyrdom of the commanders and fighters of the Afghan Freedom Front in the Battle of South Salang by holding a ceremony in Tehran.
The ceremony, which was attended by civil activists and former comrades, honored prominent figures such as Commander Akmal Amir (military official of the Freedom Front) and Commander Basir Andarabi as symbols of courage and resistance. Participants spoke about their sacrifices, their resilience in the harsh mountainous conditions of Salang, and the role of these commanders in the fight against the Taliban. 
Akmal Amir, born in Kapisa Province and a graduate of the Marshal Fahim Military Academy, was a former officer of the Afghan National Army who joined the Freedom Front after the fall of the republic. Basir Andarabi was also a prominent commander of the former army’s commandos and a native of Andarabi, Baghlan, who had a history of fighting in various regions, including Helmand and Farah. Both were martyred in a heavy and unequal clash on 22 AH 1402 (April 2023) in the southern Salang region of Parwan province, along with other comrades (including Fahim Salangi, Burhan Andarabi, Qurban Ali Bamiyan, Abdul Saboor Faryabi, and Hussein Samangani). The battle lasted for hours and took place in a situation where the Freedom Front forces were facing superior equipment and numbers from the Taliban. 
The Tehran ceremony was not limited to commemorating this event, and other figures of the resistance were also remembered, including General Ikramuddin Saree (former commander of Baghlan and Takhar police who was assassinated in Tehran a few months ago). The main message of the ceremony was to emphasize continuing the path of the martyrs, preserving the territorial integrity of Afghanistan, and resisting Taliban rule.
The participants recounted stories of the courage of these commanders: being on the front lines, committing to defending the people and land against the imposition of a new reality, and becoming symbols for a generation that continued the resistance with limited resources but strong will. Many observers believe that the prominence of such figures reflects the Taliban's pervasive illegitimacy; a group that, despite its geographical control, has failed to attract widespread support from society, and its harsh policies, elimination of opponents, and restrictions on freedoms have driven some Afghans to symbolic or practical resistance.
The ceremony coincided with the declarations and activities of the Freedom Front, and reminded that the epic of South Salang is still alive and has been recorded as one of the enduring battles of the anti-Taliban resistance in Afghanistan's contemporary history. 
The Afghan Freedom Front is an armed opposition group to the Taliban, consisting mainly of former army forces and commandos, and continues its activities in the northern and mountainous regions of Afghanistan. The third anniversary of these martyrs was an opportunity to reexamine the values ​​of freedom, justice, and the country's territorial integrity.