Fresh commentary has drawn attention to the political and security network surrounding former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, accusing individuals close to him of exploiting his influence for personal gain.
The commentary also refers to a confrontation in Mazar-e-Sharif involving Afghanistan’s elite TF-222 Crisis Response Unit (CRU) and forces loyal to Noor. The episode is presented as an example of the limitations faced by Noor’s local power structure when confronted by Afghan government special forces.
Atta Mohammad Noor was a powerful political and security figure in Balkh for more than a decade and maintained significant influence over provincial institutions and security networks. His political dominance and business interests in the province were frequently the subject of criticism and allegations of corruption, which Noor denied.
A well-documented confrontation occurred in Mazar-e-Sharif in March 2019, when government-backed forces clashed with police loyal to Noor’s camp over the appointment of a new provincial police chief. Reports said the fighting lasted for hours and resulted in casualties and arrests.
The latest commentary appears to connect that broader history of political rivalry with claims about the effectiveness of Noor’s loyalist forces. However, the specific assertion that TF-222 disarmed Noor’s handpicked police chief during a 30-minute firefight in 2018 could not be independently confirmed from the reliable sources reviewed.
The episode nevertheless reflects the intense struggle between Afghanistan’s central government and powerful regional figures over control of security institutions during the former Republic era.