Anti-Taliban Armed Group Briefly Seizes District Center in Badakhshan

DID Press: An armed anti-Taliban group briefly seized control of the Yaftal Payan district center in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province early Friday, marking the first reported temporary loss of a district by the Taliban since they returned to power in 2021, according to local sources.

Residents and local sources said between 20 and 25 armed fighters stormed government facilities in Yaftal Payan before dawn. After a brief clash, the attackers reportedly took control of the district administration building, police headquarters and intelligence office, raising their flag over the compound.

The assailants allegedly disarmed Taliban forces, seized military equipment and government vehicles, and withdrew from the area after holding the district center for several hours.There were no immediate reports of casualties. Some local sources claimed the attackers also took several Taliban members with them, although the claim could not be independently verified.

According to local sources, the operation was carried out by a group identifying itself as the Homeland Soldiers Front, an anti-Taliban organization that has recently become more active in Badakhshan.

Following the attack, Taliban authorities reportedly deployed reinforcements from the provincial capital, Faizabad, while helicopters patrolled the area for several hours. Security measures have since been tightened in the district and on surrounding roads.Yaftal Payan is considered a strategically important district in Badakhshan.

The incident comes amid rising instability in the province, where anti-Taliban armed activity, internal divisions within the Taliban, disputes over mining resources, and growing local dissatisfaction with the presence of non-local Taliban forces have heightened security concerns.

The Taliban have not immediately issued a detailed statement on the incident.