According to sources, 11 Taliban members were killed and several others wounded in an armed clash between a unit affiliated with Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and a newly formed Taliban unit tasked with suppressing opposition groups in Bahramcha district of Helmand province.
The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday, 21 Mizan. A source closely following the developments said the dispute began over the transfer of an opium shipment after a Taliban unit stationed in Helmand stopped three vehicles carrying opium that was allegedly destined for smuggling into Iran.
According to the source, members of Akhundzada’s special unit wanted the seized opium to be transferred to Kandahar. The disagreement between the two sides escalated into an armed confrontation and gunfire.
Sources added that the bodies of those killed were handed over to their families in Helmand and Kandahar. The wounded were initially taken to the Dwyer military base in Garmsir district before being transferred to the Helmand Army Corps.
The Taliban have not issued an official statement on the incident. However, their forces in Helmand’s border areas regularly report seizing smuggled goods and conducting operations to prevent the smuggling of commodities and the unauthorised movement of people across Afghanistan’s borders with Iran and Pakistan.
According to the sources, Akhundzada’s special unit had also been deployed to Bahramcha district to prevent opium smuggling.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
