Taliban Detains Tajik Commander in Baghlan Amid Intergroup Clashes

Sources within the Taliban reported that Mullah Akhtar, the police commander for the group in central Baghlan, has clashed with Mullah Aziz, a Tajik Taliban commander, in the Burka district of Baghlan.

According to Afghanistan International sources, during this confrontation, Mullah Aziz and his family were detained, and four of his associates were injured.

The clash reportedly started on Friday following tensions between Pashtun and Tajik Taliban commanders over Mullah Aziz's attempt to construct a house in the Burka district. The confrontation escalated when Taliban forces halted the house's construction.

Mullah Aziz, also known as Haji Tariq, who serves as the Taliban security operations commander in Baghlan, was among those detained. Sources indicated that four individuals linked to Mullah Aziz were injured during the clash. Visual evidence from the scene shows gunfire.

An audio file obtained from Mullah Aziz criticised the treatment of Tajik Taliban members in Baghlan. In this audio, the local Taliban commander expressed, "The injustice currently happening in Baghlan did not exist during the United States' presence in Afghanistan." He highlighted that Taliban forces attacked his home, injuring two people, including his son, and accused Taliban officials of waging a jihad against Tajik mujahideen.

Sources within the Taliban disclosed that while some family members were released on Saturday, Mullah Aziz and five of his associates remain in detention.