RASC News Agency: Local sources from Khost district in Baghlan province report that Pashtun and Tajik Taliban factions have clashed in Abedkhil village, part of Tagab Bazaar in the district. On Wednesday, June 19, sources stated that Pashtun Taliban members had been continuously harassing residents in Tagab Bazaar for several weeks. In response to this harassment, Tajik Taliban members confronted the Pashtun Taliban early this morning.
According to the sources, Mawlawi Ibadullah, a local Taliban commander and one of the initial leaders of the group in Khost district, went to the Taliban’s central unit in Abedkhil village this morning and clashed with Bashir Ahmad Mufleh, the commander of Taliban units in Khost. Sources further revealed that Mawlawi Ibadullah had approached the Taliban unit commander to address local grievances. However, Pashtun Taliban members attacked him, resulting in a violent confrontation between the two factions. Mawlawi Ibadullah reportedly beat the Pashtun Taliban unit commander.
Following this clash, Mawlawi Ibadullah retreated to Farzo Valley, his birthplace, rallied Tajik Taliban members, and demanded the immediate withdrawal of Pashtun Taliban members from Khost district. Ahmad (a pseudonym), a resident of Khavosh Valley in Khost, said: “The oppression by Pashtun Taliban in recent days in Khost has reached its peak. People are too terrified to raise their voices, but the group continuously arrests, beats, and imprisons residents.”
According to sources, three Pashtun Taliban members disappeared in Khawosh Valley a few days before Eid al-Adha, leading to increased harassment of the local population by the group. Since their takeover, the Taliban have consistently detained, tortured, imprisoned, and, in some cases, killed Khost-Baghlan residents under various pretexts, particularly accusations of collaborating with the National Resistance Front.
Recently, the group arrested seven residents from the Farghanbal and Charkhfalak valleys of the district on charges of collaborating with the National Resistance Front. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
