Local sources say that Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s army chief, entered the Nusay district following tensions over gold extraction in Badakhshan to personally assess the situation.
A video obtained by media outlets on Wednesday, 20 May, shows the moment the helicopter carrying Fasihuddin and his accompanying delegation landed in Nusay.
According to sources, on Tuesday, Mullah Juma Fateh gathered more than 150 armed Taliban members along with around 500 students and local residents at the “Al-Fath” madrasa.
Sources say that during the gathering, he encouraged people to stage demonstrations against the Badakhshan governor’s order to halt gold extraction operations.
Sources further added that the organization of the protest march had been entrusted to Burhan, the director of the “Al-Fath” madrasa.
According to the sources, Fasihuddin is attempting to persuade Mullah Juma Fateh to transfer his relatives and close associates who are accused in the Shaki district case and in allegations involving the seizure of local people’s land to the provincial center for investigation.
Earlier, it had been alleged that the recent tensions over the gold mines were coordinated between Juma Fateh and Fasihuddin, as gold extraction is considered an important source of income for their close associates.
This comes as, following the Taliban’s return to power, unregulated mining activities have increased significantly, and clashes have repeatedly occurred both among Taliban fighters and, in some cases, between the Taliban and local residents over control of gold mines.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
