Pashto-Language Afghan Outlet: 'Iran And Its Proxy Militant Organizations Were Given The Best Opportunity After The Iran-Israel War To Join The Islamic Ummah'

Memri

2 days ago

A Pashto-language article published by the Afghan media outlet Daily Shahadat recently accused Iran of applying a double standard in the Middle East, pointing out that Qassem Soleimani, the slain commander of the Al-Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), did not fire a single bullet at Israel despite being present in Syria and commanding a 150,000-strong militia.
Titled "Iran's Deception And Its False Claims," the article claims Iran has been exploiting Shi'ite-Sunni divisions in the Islamic world, particularly in Syria, out of geopolitical interests. It notes that Iran launched propaganda against Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, despite his support for Iran during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025.
The writer argues that although the war gave Iran an opportunity to join the Islamic Ummah, and to bury Shi'ite-Sunni divisions, "even now, it does not refrain from issuing threats; their irresponsible stance on the recent attacks in Syria, the unjust and extremely harsh treatment of Afghan refugees, attacks on Ahl al-Sunnah, assassinations of Sunni scholars in Yemen, and other such wicked acts indicate that Iran is once again following the same path."
Following are excerpts from the article:
"The Delayed Revolution Of Syria Also Fell Victim To These Same [Sunni-Shi'ite] Divisions; In Fact, Its Victory Was Delayed Because Of Them – Iran Supported Assad And Sent Shi'ite Proxy Terrorist Groups There, Giving This War A Sunni-Shi'ite Sectarian Color"
"In the Islamic world, alongside the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, two ideologies were widely promoted. The Islamic world, which has been divided between Sunnis and Shi'ites, has experienced in its internal conflicts such misfortunes that perhaps its enemies had never caused it that much harm. Indeed, Islamic history has witnessed two of the most oppressed martyrdoms: one, the martyrdom of Uthman ibn Affan, and the other, the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali [grandson of Muhammad].
"The story then unfolded in such a way that the martyrdom of [the third Islamic caliph] Uthman ibn Affan was exploited by the Nasibis [those who hated the family of Muhammad] for their own political motives and goals... and the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali was exploited by the Rawafidh [rejectionist, a pejorative term for Shi'ite]. The sacred martyrdoms of these two great individuals are still being held hostage by these two groups.
"Even today, they continue to manipulate these martyrdoms in political and emotional ways. These two factions have preserved exclusive rights over these two noble personalities and still take credit from them, leaving the ummah divided into two groups because of them. The roots of the Islamic world's cold wars, subsequent direct military conflicts, and even proxy wars, in one way or another, trace back to these very events.
"After the Arab Spring, the delayed revolution of Syria also fell victim to these same divisions; in fact, its victory was delayed because of them. Iran supported Assad and sent Shi'ite proxy terrorist groups there, giving this war a Sunni-Shi'ite sectarian color, even though it was in reality a pure popular uprising against a non-Muslim, brutal, and tyrannical dictator. Eventually, Assad fled, Iran was disgraced, and Syria fell into the hands of a second group, whom the Iranians, out of extreme prejudice, even call 'Umayyads.'"
"During The Entire Period Of Their Superman Qasem Soleimani's Presence In Syria, Along With His 150,000 Fighters... [Iranians] Did Not Fire Even A Single Bullet Toward Israel"
"In any case, Iran considered this new revolutionary government to be pro-Israel and expressed an intention to react against them, while during the entire period of their Superman Qasem Soleimani's presence in Syria, along with his 150,000 fighters, they did not fire even a single bullet at Israel.
"Last month [during the 12-day war, June 13-24, 2025], when Israel and the United States jointly bombed Iran's nuclear facilities and Iran came under widespread attacks, then... this same Umayyad ruler, that is, Syria's interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, very clearly stated: Although Iranian forces committed extreme atrocities against the Syrian people, we still announce our support and sympathy with them against Israel.
"This same courageous stance was adopted by the entire Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaah [the Sunni world]. Even an Iran-opposing state like Saudi Arabia firmly declared its support for them and condemned Israel's attacks.
"On the contrary, when Israel heavily bombed Damascus under the pretext of supporting the Druze community, although Iran officially condemned these attacks, all the other Shi'ite groups and Iran-aligned terrorists mocked the attacks and considered them a deserved punishment. At the very least, their social media accounts repeated this narrative. This, despite the fact that they portray themselves as enemies of Israel..."
"As The World Learned Of Al-Joulani's Real Name, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Iran Launched Widespread Negative Messaging – They Claimed He Was An Israeli Spy"
"Iran and its proxy terrorist groups leveled a few accusations against the interim Syrian government – for example:
"Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Joulani) was accused of being an Israeli spy
"When al-Joulani came to power, Assad left Syria and managed to flee to Moscow. As the world learned of Al-Joulani's real name, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, Iran launched widespread negative propaganda. They claimed he was an Israeli spy; that Israel had replaced Assad with him and handed Syria over to his embrace. But this was such a foolish slander that it was practically impossible to believe.
Ahmad Al-Sharaa (image courtesy: Human Rights Watch)
"Israel was actually the first to express concern over the Syrian revolution. Regarding Al-Joulani and [his jihadi group] Hayat Tahrir Al-Shaam, Israeli officials clearly stated that they had only changed in appearance, but in reality, they still held the same jihadi ideology and posed the greatest threat to Israel above anyone else.
"Israel sought to expand the buffer zone and did not stop there; it attacked many military targets and continued this bloody campaign. Just yesterday [in late July 2025], it went so far as to bomb the Ministry of Defense and other important and sensitive centers under the false pretense of defending the Druze community. All of this is clear evidence of the falsehood of Iran's claims."
"Iranian Media Published A False Report... Claiming That Ahmad Al-Sharaa Had Fled Syria"; "Just As Israel Holds Hopes In The Druze And Alawites, So Too Do Iran And Its Rejected Proxies Hold Hopes In Them"
"False rumor about the Syrian president's escape
"Iranian media published a false report..., claiming that Ahmad Al-Sharaa had fled Syria. They may have mistaken Ahmad Al-Sharaa for Bashar Al-Assad. The ones who actually fled Syria were those who had come from all corners of the world under the false pretext of defending the shrine of Zaynab [the grand-daughter of Muhammad, in Damascus], swearing oaths that they would remain until the last drop of their blood.
"They drank the blood of the Syrian people and gathered around their destruction; they committed massacres and then left that very shrine behind just as it was and fled. They had looked at Ahmad Al-Sharaa through the lens of Qasem Soleimani, but this Arab lion gives up his life, not his ambush. His withdrawal is not for escape, but rather to prepare for a new and dangerous attack.
"The surrender of the Druze and their entry into negotiations revealed his political maneuver. The way he brought certain figures to the frontlines and then prepared them for a ceasefire was a masterpiece, you will see it in his upcoming speech! Another interesting point is that just as Israel holds hopes in the Druze and Alawites, so too do Iran and its rejected proxies hold hopes in them. Is that not interesting too?"
Ahmad Al-Sharaa: "Israeli Interference In The Southern Regions And Their Open Bombardments In Damascus Have Once Again Deteriorated The Situation In Suwayda"
"During the time of Sultan Baybars [the king of Syria and Egypt, 1260-1277 CE], the enemy never knew where the Sultan was; they would always be left astonished when they saw the Sultan emerging from some ambush. Exactly the same way, the Iranians and their other proxies did not know where the lion (Al-Joulani) was; and that is why they spread the lie that he had fled Syria.
"The one who attempts to flee is the one whose Kaaba is either Moscow or Washington. But this lion of the Golan Mountains, moments later, appeared live from the Presidential Palace and performed the funeral rites of the Iranian propaganda. With this, he proved that he is the hope of the Syrian people in their darkest days.
Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran (image courtesy: Tehran Times)
"The key points of his speech were as follows:
"i) The international community has advised us that they should enter Suwayda and restore the country's security; but our objective is not to invite another war in the country.
"ii) Israeli interference in the southern regions and their open bombardments in Damascus have once again deteriorated the situation in Suwayda.
"iii) We appreciate the role of the United States, which confirmed support and unity for Syria and restrained Israel.
"iv) The honorable Druze community cannot be blamed for the actions of a few individuals.
"v) The incidents proved that the residents of Suwayda stand with the state, except for a small group.
"vi) We appreciate the courageous stance of the tribes and call on them for a complete ceasefire.
"vii) Syria is no longer a field for separatist agendas."
"The Ahl Al-Sunnah [Sunni World] Had Announced Firm Support For Iran, But Unfortunately, Iran Continues Its Destructive Policies"; "Iran Will Again Not Take Even A Single Step Beyond The Slogan Of Death To [Israel, Death To America]"
"Iran and its proxy militant organizations were given the best opportunity after the Iran-Israel war to join the Islamic Ummah. During those days, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa stating that Tabarra (insulting the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them) is a forbidden act. The Ahl al-Sunnah had announced firm support for Iran, but unfortunately, Iran continues its destructive policies; it shows no commitment to the boundaries of brotherhood.
"Even now, it does not refrain from issuing threats; their irresponsible stance on the recent attacks in Syria, the unjust and extremely harsh treatment of Afghan refugees, attacks on Ahl al-Sunnah, assassinations of Sunni scholars in Yemen, and other such wicked acts indicate that Iran is once again following the same path. Certainly, the end of this path is failure.
"The Islamic world, and especially Syria, will regain its former glory, Allah willing! We believe that the armies of Palestine's liberation will cross the Syrian borders. The Egyptian, Jordanian, and Lebanese Pharaohs [i.e., hegemonic rulers] and Rawafidh will watch this scene with open eyes and then say that this too was America's will. Iran will again not take even a single step beyond the slogan of Death to [Israel, Death to America]."
Source: DailyShahadat.com (Afghanistan), July 21, 2025.