Deepening operational disagreements and political rifts within the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) have culminated in the arrest and prolonged detention of senior military commander Moein Eslam Pour by Iranian security forces.
According to internal opposition sources and detailed field reports, Eslam Pour—a prominent field commander within the AFF—has been held in an Iranian detention facility for nearly two months, with sources raising urgent concerns over his declining health.
Operational Disagreements and Political Fallout
The friction within the opposition front reportedly escalated following military engagements in the Wakhan district of Badakhshan two months ago, where Eslam Pour was accused by internal rivals of operational negligence:
- Relocation and Ideological Refusal: AFF leadership originally transferred Eslam Pour from Karaj, Iran, to Islamabad, Pakistan, intending to assign him military command over forces deployed in the Zibak sector of Badakhshan. However, upon reviewing the front’s leadership structure, Eslam Pour explicitly refused to serve under a framework associated with former republic-era officials, specifically figures linked to Ashraf Ghani.
- Detention and Confiscation in Islamabad: Following his refusal to take up the assignment, Eslam Pour’s personal communications equipment was confiscated by front representatives, placing him under virtual house arrest in Islamabad for roughly three weeks.
- Mediation and Public Renunciation: Former parliamentarian Zalmay Khan Mojaddedi eventually mediated his release. Upon his discharge, Eslam Pour publicly denounced his treatment as abusive and posted a statement on social media declaring his absolute refusal to fight under former republic banners, further widening the rift with AFF leadership.
Extradition, Betrayal, and Iranian Custody
Seeking to escape the situation, Eslam Pour departed Pakistan to re-enter Iran. However, upon arrival, he was immediately detained by Iranian intelligence authorities.
Field reports allege that an AFF representative in Iran—acting as a deputy to Dr. Zia Wathiq Panjshiri and previously affiliated with former National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib—actively reported Eslam Pour to Iranian security apparatuses, labeling him a dangerous extremist linked to hostile armed factions.
Silence from Resistance Leadership
The arrest and reports of Eslam Pour’s deteriorating physical condition highlight growing structural vulnerabilities, ideological factionalism, and command instability within armed opposition fronts operating from neighboring states.
To date, the senior leadership of the Afghanistan Freedom Front has issued no official response or public clarification regarding the commander’s arrest or the ongoing internal divisions.