Taliban factions clash over gold mine in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province

Taliban factions clashed over control of a gold mine in Shahr-e-Buzurg district in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, causing multiple casualties, Afghan media reported, citing local sources.

The confrontation reportedly involved Abdul Rahman Ammar, the former head of Badakhshan’s mining department, and Shafiqullah Hafizi, the current head of mines, both of whom hold significant influence within the Taliban in the province.

According to reports, forces from a Taliban border battalion aligned with Hafizi and engaged Ammar’s fighters. At least one border battalion member was killed during the clashes. Ammar, despite no longer holding an official position, maintains a loyal following of armed men and a stockpile of weapons.

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The recent clash comes just three days after another armed confrontation between Taliban factions in Shahr-e-Buzurg district. Local officials said reinforcements were sent from the provincial capital to prevent the fighting from escalating further.

Over the past four years, the Taliban has increasingly focused on mining operations across Afghanistan to boost revenue from the country’s natural resources. However, critics and local residents have frequently raised concerns about the lack of transparency in mineral extraction and the management of the resulting income.