Juma Khan Fateh Meets Taliban’s PM Amid Badakhshan Tensions

DID Press: Juma Khan Fateh, a prominent Taliban commander in Badakhshan, has met Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul, marking his first high-profile appearance after months of reported tensions with the group’s leadership over security and control of gold mining in the northeastern province.

Fateh was seen at the Arg in Kabul following weeks of speculation over his relationship with the Taliban leadership. His appearance comes amid continued security tensions in Badakhshan and reports of efforts by the Taliban to consolidate control over the province’s lucrative gold mines.

Speaking briefly to local media, Fatih confirmed that he traveled to Kabul with Fasihuddin Fitrat, Chief of Staff of the Taliban Armed Forces, and Din Mohammad Hanif, the Taliban’s Acting Minister of Economy, where they met with Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund.

Fatih declined to disclose details of the meeting but said his departure from the post of Deputy Governor of Zabul was due to language barriers, stating that he did not speak Pashto while most residents of the province did not speak Persian.

The meeting follows weeks of reports linking tensions in Badakhshan to disputes over gold mining and Taliban efforts to disarm armed groups loyal to Fateh. Local sources have said the Taliban’s crackdown on illegal gold extraction threatened the economic interests of Fatih and his local network, contributing to clashes in the Darwaz and Nusay districts, where he was reportedly based for a period.

Earlier, Fasihuddin Fitrat dismissed reports of a serious rift between Fateh and the Taliban leadership, insisting that Fatih remained aligned with the movement and could eventually relocate to Kabul. He attributed Fateh’s absence from Zabul to “family issues.”

However, local sources and observers familiar with Taliban internal dynamics say the core dispute centers on control of Badakhshan’s gold mines and attempts by Kabul to dismantle informal armed groups loyal to Fateh, which have long served as a pillar of his influence in the province.

Taliban Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had previously removed Fatih from his position in Zabul and reportedly offered him several government posts outside Badakhshan, including a senior intelligence position in Kabul. According to local sources, Fateh rejected those offers in an apparent effort to preserve his political and military influence in northeastern Afghanistan.

His appearance alongside senior Taliban officials has renewed speculation over whether Kabul is seeking to redefine Fateh’s role within the Taliban hierarchy or gradually curtail his influence in Badakhshan.