By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi Abubakar Siddique July 1, 2022 Residents and international human rights watchdogs are criticizing the Taliban for grave rights abuses that have been reported in its military campaign against a dissident commander in a remote part of northern Afghanistan. Civilians in Balkhab, a rural district in the Sar-e Pul Province, told RFE/RL’s Radio
8am: The Taliban have unlawfully and extrajudicially executed civilians for being Hazaras after breaking the lines of the local forces led by Mawlawi Mehdi in Balkhab district, Sar-e-Pul province. According to video clips obtained by Hasht-e Subh on Wednesday (June 29th), Taliban forces in Balkhab district have killed civilians, including miners and shepherds, after interrogating
Tolo News: Following reports of clashes between the Islamic Emirate forces and Commander Mawlawi Mahdi in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul, the MoD stated that the dispute has ended. Meanwhile, in a meeting with Shia clerics and elders of Balkhab, 2nd Deputy PM Abdul Salam Hanafi stressed the importance of preventing civilian casualties in Balkhab. Amnesty
Aamaj: Local sources in Sar-e-Pul told Aamaj News that Taliban have resumed their attacks on positions of Mawlawi Mahdi in Balkhab district after several hours of delay. According to the sources yesterday 14 Taliban fighters [have been] killed and 10 others wounded in the skirmish. It has been three days that Taliban are trying to
8am: A source close to Mawlawi Mehdi says that several Taliban fighters have been killed and several others were captured during the battle in Balkhab. The source said that local forces in Balkhab, led by Mawlawi Mehdi, attacked the Taliban forces on Thursday evening (June 23rd) in the area between Dozdan Dara and Qomkotal. Local
8am: Sources say that fierce clashes between the Taliban and local forces led by Mawlawi Mehdi Mujahid, the only Taliban commander from the Hazara community who recently left Taliban ranks, are taking place in various parts of Balkhab district, Sar-e-Pul province. A source close to Mehdi Mujahid told Hasht-e Subh that the clashes began this
8am: Ghazni is one of the provinces where international aid has flowed during the past recent months, but the Taliban have discriminately prevented it from being distributed and granted to deserving segment of the society. According to reports, no aid has been distributed in the four districts of Ghazni province where Hazara people live. This
8am: After seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has slowly and steadily begun to purge non-Pashtun commanders off its ranks. So far, several Uzbek and Tajik commanders of the group have been ousted from the government in control of the Taliban. Among the Taliban commanders ousted by the group is Mawlawi Mehdi Mujahid. Mahdi
8am: As disputes escalating between Commander Mehdi Mujahid, the only Hazara commander of the Taliban group, sources in Sar-e Pol province now reported that the Taliban group has closed the access routes between Balkhab district and the provincial capital. According to sources, the Taliban have banned the commute of passengers and the transport of foodstuff
8am: Simultaneously with the escalation of the clashes in Panjshir, the Taliban’s supreme leader has recently appointed Mohammad Nasim Noori as a new governor for the province, local sources reported. The new appointed governor for Panjshir is from Helmand province and a Pashtun, according to sources. Taliban members have not yet provided details on his