Following recent attacks by armed opposition groups in the Kamdesh district of Nuristan province, the Taliban's provincial police chief has requested reinforcements. While the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) claimed responsibility for the attacks, the Taliban official also alleges the National Resistance Front (NRF) was involved.
Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Muzammal, the Taliban's police chief for Nuristan, claimed in an interview with a local media outlet that Pakistan had sent 300 to 400 young Afghans from across the Durand Line to carry out the attacks. He added that most of the attackers were former military personnel from the previous government. Pakistan has denied this allegation.
Contradicting the Taliban's Ministry of Defense, the police chief did not accuse ISIS of involvement. Instead, he claimed that the "National Resistance Front" participated alongside the Afghanistan Freedom Front, which had already claimed responsibility.
Highlighting Nuristan's strategic location, he noted that wars against both Soviet forces and the Republic had started from similar routes across the Durand Line. However, he expressed confidence that the opposition will not succeed this time, claiming they lack public support.
Mr. Muzammal stated he has asked Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani and other officials for additional forces for Nuristan. He proposed recruiting these forces locally, requesting three companies for each district bordering Pakistan and one company for other districts.
The Taliban's Ministry of Defense had previously claimed that the clashes in Kamdesh ended with 41 opposition fighters killed and 61 arrested. The Nuristan police chief confirmed that a number of Taliban fighters were wounded in the conflict.
Source: Local media
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