Local sources in Badakhshan province report that at least two civilians were injured following a clash between two groups of Taliban fighters over the control of a gold mine. The incident occurred before noon on Sunday, October 4, in the Andarabiha area of Shiveh, Badakhshan.
According to Afghanistan International, the confrontation began between fighters loyal to Dr. Fazlullah, a Badakhshani Taliban commander, and a group of non-Badakhshani (Pashtun) Taliban. Sources indicated that Dr. Fazlullah engaged the other group in support of local residents, and his guards disarmed five Taliban members.
A local resident sent a video to the media confirming that a civilian father and son were wounded in the clash. Following the ief skirmish, the situation in the area was reported to be extremely tense, with Taliban reinforcements dispatched from the center of Arghanjkhah district.
Tensions over gold mining in Shiveh, particularly in the Andarabiha area, have been ongoing for some time. Local inhabitants are demanding the withdrawal of Taliban-affiliated companies and individuals from the region.
The Taliban administration in Badakhshan has prohibited some local people from mining without a license. This move has added an ethnic dimension to the mining dispute, increasing tensions between the local Badakhshani Taliban and Pashtun Taliban members.
Dr. Fazlullah is a Tajik Taliban commander from Badakhshan who currently holds no official position within the group's structure. However, he is said to control and actively mine parts of the Shiveh gold mine.
This event took place just two days after a similar clash occurred between Taliban members in Badakhshan's Yemgan district over control of another mine, which also resulted in one person being injured. Internal conflicts among the Taliban over natural resources and mining revenues have become a significant challenge for the group, especially in Badakhshan.
Source: Afghanistan International
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