Clashes have reportedly erupted between Taliban forces and fighters from the Afghanistan Freedom Front in Zibak district of Badakhshan province.
Local sources told Afghanistan International that fighting began on Monday, September 6, in the Zibak area. Sources affiliated with the Afghanistan Freedom Front also confirmed that its forces had engaged Taliban fighters in the district.
A resident of the Sang Leech area, located near the reported site of the clashes, described the fighting as “intense.” The resident also said Taliban forces had been observed moving in the vicinity of the area where the clashes were taking place.
The latest fighting adds to reports of continued armed confrontations between Taliban forces and opposition groups in parts of northern Afghanistan. Badakhshan, which borders China, Tajikistan and Pakistan, has previously witnessed security incidents and reported clashes involving anti-Taliban armed groups.
Details regarding casualties, the cause of the latest confrontation and the outcome of the fighting were not immediately available. It also remains unclear whether the clashes have continued or whether Taliban forces have taken control of the area.
The Afghanistan Freedom Front has previously claimed responsibility for attacks against Taliban positions in several parts of Afghanistan. The Taliban authorities have maintained that security has improved across the country since they returned to power in 2021, although reports of armed resistance and security incidents continue to emerge.
The latest reports from Zibak could not be independently verified, and there has been no detailed public statement from Taliban authorities regarding the reported clashes.