Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty June 9, 2020 A new breakaway Afghan Taliban faction that has close ties to neighboring Iran and opposes efforts aimed at ending the 18-year insurgency in Afghanistan has emerged. The Hezb-e Walayat-e Islami, or Party of Islamic Guardianship, is believed to have split from the mainstream Taliban soon after
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty November 30, 2018 Afghan officials say clashes between two Taliban factions have killed dozens of militants in the country’s west. Jilani Farhad, the spokesman for the governor of Herat Province, said at least 28 Taliban fighters were killed and 25 wounded in the Shindand district on November 30. Hekmatullah Hekmat, the
Hasib Danish Alikozai VOA News September 27, 2016 WASHINGTON — Ja Jaan, a member of the Afghan national police, was traveling home from his job in the provincial capital of southern Uruzgan province to spend a few days off with his family when he came under attack from the Taliban. “I was armed, and I knew
Tolo News: Criticizing the appointment of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada as Taliban’s new leader, Mullah Mannan Niazi, spokesman for the Taliban’s breakaway faction led by Mullah Rassoul, said on Sunday that the newly appointed leader is a puppet of Pakistan – just as his predecessor, Mullah Mansour, was. He said Mullah Rassoul’s faction wants an Islamic government in
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 26, 2016 RFE/RL has obtained video footage that purportedly shows a group of Taliban commanders pledging loyalty to the newly named Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. The video shows a group of turbaned and bearded men declaring allegiance to Akhundzada and expressing their agreement with his appointment as the
Tolo News: The Afghan government is providing military and financial support to a breakaway Taliban faction, said some Afghan and U.S coalition officials. According to officials, Rassoul’s faction and other splinter groups have been getting cash, ammunition and weapons from the Afghan government. However, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s deputy spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashemi rejected these claims. Click
KABUL, May 17 (Xinhua) — Cracks further appeared within Taliban rank as infighting between supporters of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor and his opponents headed by Mullah Mohammad Rasoul have killed 15 fighters from both sides in the western region of Afghanistan since Sunday, officials said Tuesday. In the latest fighting between the two
Tolo News: Dozens of Taliban militants have been killed in serious clashes between rival factions after the pro-Mullah Rassoul faction declared Jihad against the pro-Akhter Mansour group on Monday. The pro-Mullah Rassoul faction, who declared Jihad (Holy war) against their rivals – the main faction of the Taliban led by Mullah Omar’s successor Akhter Mansour –
Khaama Press: A dissident commander of the Taliban group has claimed that the group’s newly-appointed Supreme Leader Mullah Akhtar is not alive. The Taliban commander loyal to Mullah Mohammad Rasool has released a video message saying the Taliban group leaders should pledge allegiance to Mullah Rasool. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama Press: A Taliban group commander affiliated with Mullah Mohammad Rasool has declared Jihad against Taliban’s self-declared supreme leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in northwestern Badghis province of Afghanistan. The Taliban commander, Mullah Ghafoor Tufan, has accused Mansoor of working for Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and murdering several Taliban leaders. Click here to read more (external link).