Taliban Defense Chief Visits Badakhshan Borders Amid Internal Tensions

DID Press: The acting defense minister of the Taliban-led administration has visited border areas in Badakhshan province, located near China, Tajikistan, and the so-called Durand Line, stressing the protection of territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

The Ministry of Defense said that Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid toured several districts in northeastern Badakhshan, including Karan-o-Munjan, Zebak, Wakhan, and the Pamir region, as part of a broader inspection of strategic border zones.

According to the statement, the defense chief also reviewed military positions along Afghanistan’s borders with China, Tajikistan, and the Durand Line, assessing the readiness of deployed forces.

He emphasized full preparedness to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, describing it as a shared responsibility of all security and defense forces.

The visit comes amid rising internal tensions in Badakhshan, where recent disagreements involving local Taliban commander Jamal Khan Fateh have reportedly escalated. Following his reported dissatisfaction, security measures were tightened and military deployments increased in the province.

Local sources earlier reported that additional Taliban forces were sent from Kabul to Badakhshan in an effort to manage the situation and possibly detain the commander. Witnesses claimed that more than 35 military convoy vehicles entered the province in a single day.