Local sources in Helmand province report that an armed clash between two groups of Taliban fighters over an opium shipment has resulted in 11 deaths and four injuries.
According to the 8 Sobh Daily, the confrontation occurred on Tuesday in the Bahramcha district of Helmand, a major hub for narcotics production and trafficking in Afghanistan. The clash was between the special unit of the Taliban's police command and the "Hebat" unit, led by a commander named Abdul Ahad Talib.
Sources indicate that the conflict began after the police command's unit seized a shipment of opium being smuggled from Pakistan into Helmand through Bahramcha. Following the seizure, Abdul Ahad Talib, a powerful local commander, ordered the unit to return the narcotics to the smugglers and release them.
When the police command fighters refused to comply with the order, the situation escalated into a gun battle. Sources reported that the bodies of 11 Taliban fighters and four wounded individuals were subsequently transported to the Bahramcha military hospital.
This incident highlights the alleged involvement of some Taliban commanders in the drug trade. Local sources claim that Abdul Ahad Talib plays a significant role in smuggling opium from Pakistan to Afghanistan, which is then distributed to various parts of the country and smuggled into Iran.
The 8 Sobh Daily noted that it had previously found in an investigative report that Abdul Ahad Talib holds a special status among opium traffickers. This internal conflict underscores deep-seated rivalries and corruption within the Taliban's ranks, particularly concerning control over lucrative smuggling routes.
Source: 8 Sobh Daily
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