Local sources in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province claim that the Taliban have intensified security operations following the detention of individuals linked to Juma Khan Fateh, with arrests, house-to-house searches and weapons seizures reported in several districts.
According to the sources, Taliban special forces have collected hundreds of rifles and ammunition crates while detaining people believed to be close to Fateh. Restrictions on mining activities have also reportedly increased, with local Taliban personnel expected to be replaced by forces affiliated with the Pashtun community.
Sources further claim that more than 20 foreign fighters are currently present at the Toli border garrison in Nesay District. The group allegedly includes members of Ansarullah, Uyghur fighters and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The sources say some of the fighters do not speak Persian or Pashto, while four reportedly speak with a Tajik accent. Despite allegedly being foreign nationals, they are said to possess Afghan identification documents.
The reported crackdown has also extended to individuals connected to Fateh. Sources claim his brother, Abdul Fattah, who was reportedly responsible for mining activities in Nesay District, was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee.
Mawlawi Eqraruddin and his son, who were reportedly close to Fateh and intended to travel to Fayzabad, were allegedly detained on charges of links to ISIS. Taj Wali, described by sources as Fateh’s financial partner, was also reportedly arrested after hiding in a residence in Shighy District.
The claims have not been independently verified, and the Taliban have not publicly confirmed all of the reported arrests, weapons seizures or the presence of foreign fighters.