Armed clashes between Taliban and Gunmen in Herat

Clashes broke out between Taliban forces and unidentified gunmen in the Pol-e-Khimaduzan area of western Herat province, according to reports.

Sources in the province said that clashes began around noon and continued until 02:00 pm (local time).
Light and heavy weapons were used in the clashes, and some former members of Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi, deputy head of the Taliban-affiliated Taliban branch, were also in clashes.

According to reports, some members of Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi have pledged allegiance to the IS-k terror group. This, however, has not been officially confirmed yet.
The Taliban increased their presence after the clashes and have set up several checkpoints in different parts of the city.

Saeed Khosti, a spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry, said that their special forces gunned down three kidnappers, who were in hiding in PD-15 of Herat city.
According to him, Taliban forces have not suffered casualties during the incident.