SHARANA (SW): Provincial council members in Paktika have noted intense rivalry between the Taliban factions in this southeastern province.
According to the locals, the new Taliban faction is led by local militant Obaidullah Hunar that has some one thousand fighters under his command. Hunar has reportedly pronounced the Taliban Chief Mullah Mohammad Akhtar Mansour as a Pakistani agent.
Mohammadullah Himatyar, a local civil society activist told Salam Watandar that the faction led by Hunar has emerged in the Gomal district along the Durand line. “Taliban commander Obaidullah Hunar has said in a message that Mullah Mansour is waging war in Afghanistan on the directives of Pakistan”, Himatyar said.
Nematullah Babri, deputy head of the Paktika provincial council, said in this regard that the in-fighting has swollen to new heights. “They have recently fought for four days, our information suggests that the fight was between the two Taliban factions”, he stated.
Nabiullah Pirkhail, spokesman for the provincial governor has confirmed the reports. As per his information, a number of militants and their commanders have died in the fighting. “Some 45 men have died on both sides that also include a number of Taliban commanders, fighting broke when a faction blamed Mullah Mansour as an agent of Pakistan’s spy agency”, he said.
Salam Watandar wished to obtain Taliban’s view on it but to no avail. It is vital to note that cracks started to emerge among the Taliban ranks following the announcement of Mullah Omar, the late Taliban Chief’s death.
ENDS
