The Taliban have once again regained control of Afghanistan after being ousted from power for 20 years. But, in the midst of this crisis of change of power in Afghanistan, on Tuesday evening, the country's first Vice President Amrullah Saleh has made a big announcement.
Saleh has declared himself the caretaker president of Afghanistan. He also urged all the leaders of the country for their cooperation and support.
Amrullah Saleh wrote in a tweet, "As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the First Vice President becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate caretaker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus." It is pertinent to note that so far there has been no reaction from the Taliban on this announcement of Amrullah Saleh.
Clarity: As per d constitution of Afg, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President the FVP becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country & am the legitimate care taker President. Am reaching out to all leaders to secure their support & consensus.
— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 17, 2021
Targeting the US in another tweet, he wrote "Now it is useless to argue with Joe Biden on Afghanistan. We have to prove to the Afghans that Afghanistan is not Vietnam and the Taliban are not even remotely like the Vietnamese communists. Unlike the US-NATO, we have not lost our spirits and see great potential ahead."
Will not bow to Taliban: Saleh
He further vowed to fight the Taliban. He wrote, "I will never, ever & under no circumstances bow to the Talib terrorists. I will never betray the soul & legacy of my hero Ahmad Shah Masoud, the commander, the legend & the guide. I won't disappoint millions who listened to me. I will never be under one ceiling with the Taliban. NEVER."
Amrullah Saleh currently living in the Panjshir Valley of Afghanistan. It is said to be the stronghold of Ahmed Shah Masood, a former commander of the Northern Alliance. This area has been an impregnable fortress that even the Taliban has not been able to capture to date. Panjshir is the only province still out of Taliban control. This valley in north-central Afghanistan was never occupied by the Soviet Union in the 1970s or the Taliban in the 1990s.
