Local Taliban Commander in Nangarhar Province Criticises Group’s Purification Commission

Footage obtained by Afghanistan International shows that Dr Bashir, the former head of Taliban’s intelligence in Nangarhar province, accused the Taliban's purification commission of unjustly dismissing Taliban members from their positions.

Bashir, a prominent Taliban commander in the eastern zone, during the inaugural ceremony of the investigation of the Taliban purification commission, criticised the commission for dismissing a significant number of Taliban members. He stated that this issue has caused dissatisfaction among the Taliban in the province.

This Taliban commander mentioned that in the current system, not only does the Taliban have rights, but also the families who have fallen victim to the ISIS and lost their family members, should be accommodated within the ranks of the Taliban.

Many Salafis were killed or detained during Bashir's tenure as head of intelligence in Nangarhar, allegedly on suspicion of affiliating with ISIS, and he was the main accused.

Following the Taliban's defence minister Yaqoob Mujahid's directive, the purification of the group’s ranks has begun with new conditions, and after Maidan Wardak province, now it is being implemented in Nangarhar.