Following the rise of the Taliban in 1996 , Massoud , who rejected the Taliban 's fundamentalist interpretation of Islam , returned to armed opposition until he eventually fled to Kulob , Tajikistan , strategically destroying the Salang Tunnel on his way north . He became the military and political leader of the United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan or Northern Alliance , which by 2000 controlled only between 5 and 10 percent of the country . In 2001 he visited Europe and in high-level meetings with the European Parliament urged leaders to pressure Pakistan on its support for the Taliban . He also asked for humanitarian aid to help the people 's gruesome conditions under the Taliban . Massoud was assassinated at the instigation of al-Qaeda and Taliban in a suicide bombing on September 9 , 2001 . Two days later the September 11 attacks in the United States occurred , which led to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation invading Afghanistan , allying with Massoud 's forces . His forces eventually won the two-month long war in December 2001 , removing the Taliban from power
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Ahmad Shah Massoud