Pakistan, Aug. 6 -- Nearly five years after the fall of the Afghan Republic, Afghanistan appears to be entering another uncertain phase. Lieutenant General Sami Sadat, a former senior commander of the Afghan National Army, has returned to the political spotlight in military uniform beneath the tricolour flag of the former Republic, announcing a coordinated armed campaign against the Taliban under the banner of the Afghanistan United Front (AUF).

The announcement is significant because it seeks to turn scattered opposition into an organised national movement. Sadat says the military campaign has been authorised and will proceed in phases, initially focusing on Taliban fighters, military installations and senior leadership before expanding...