Civilian killed in Taliban infighting in Badakhshan, sources say

Local sources in Badakhshan told Amu that a civilian was killed in an armed clash between two Taliban officials that they said began over a dispute about fishing.

The clash occurred Saturday afternoon in the Duabi area of Baharak district between Mullah Hafiz, the Taliban governor of Farah province, and Ibrahim, the Taliban police chief for Baharak district, according to the sources.

The sources said Mullah Hafiz had traveled to the area to fish, but Ibrahim stopped him, leading to an armed confrontation between the two sides.

A civilian identified as Fida Mohammad was killed in the clash, the sources said.

Akhtar Mohammad Rasekh, a military and political affairs analyst, said disputes among Taliban officials and forces could deepen internal divisions.

“Disputes and negative views are developing among the forces or officials of the Islamic Emirate, and such actions or confrontations will play into the hands of enemy intelligence agencies,” Rasekh said.

A relative of Fida Mohammad told Amu that he had gone to the Duabi area for recreation on Saturday when the clash occurred.

The relative said Fida Mohammad was recently married and is survived by a young daughter. His relatives said he ran his own business and was also involved in sports in Baharak.

A Badakhshan resident, whose voice was altered to protect his identity, said Fida Mohammad worked as a metalworker and was a goalkeeper for Baharak district’s football team.

“He worked as a metalworker. Alongside his work, he was a member of Baharak’s sports committee and goalkeeper for the Baharak district team,” the resident said. “He married in 1401, and he had a daughter named Fayiza.”

Taliban authorities have not publicly commented on the reported clash or Fida Mohammad’s death.

Mohammad Matin Mohammadkhail, a military affairs analyst, said he was unaware of any significant security incident in the previous 24 hours.

“No noteworthy incident has occurred in the past 24 hours,” Mohammadkhail said. “If a noteworthy incident had occurred, it should have been reported.”

The incident comes after recent clashes in Badakhshan involving Juma Khan Fateh, a disgruntled Taliban commander, and other Taliban forces. Civilians were affected by those clashes, and some residents were forced to leave their homes. A Tajikistan citizen was also killed in the fighting.