Taliban Sends New Delegation to Badakhshan’s Yaftal as Contacts Reportedly Seek Talks with Milang
The Taliban administration says it has sent a new delegation to Yaftal district in Badakhshan, led by Rahmatullah Najib, the group’s governor in the province. The trip came as reports said efforts were intensifying to make contact with Qayum Milang, commander of the Sepah-e-Miهن Front.
In a statement released on Saturday, the fourth of میزان, by the acting interior minister of the Taliban administration, it said Rahmatullah Najib, along with Ahmad Shah Din-Dost, the Taliban police chief in Badakhshan, the intelligence chief and several local officials, travelled to Yaftal and met representatives of the people there.
According to the Taliban administration, the governor conveyed the “message of Hibatullah” to the people during the visit and expressed appreciation for the “sacrifice and struggle” of Yaftal residents in strengthening the group’s system. However, the details of that message have not yet been made clear.
Rahmatullah Najib asked the residents of Yaftal to cooperate with the Taliban administration to prevent “illegal” activities and ensure security. Ahmad Shah Din-Dost also urged people in the district to continue their cooperation with the Taliban administration.
Earlier, a delegation led by Faseehuddin Fitrat had also travelled to Yaftal. Local sources said that delegation had asked residents to facilitate talks with Qayum Milang, commander of the Sepah-e-Miهن Front.
A source in Badakhshan said that about two weeks ago, a letter from the office of the Taliban leader in Kandahar was sent to Taliban officials in Badakhshan, instructing them to resolve the issue of the Sepah-e-Miهن Front and Qayum Milang as soon as possible. The Taliban administration has so far not officially commented on negotiations with this front.
Hebatullah Arkan, deputy for the military wing of the Sepah-e-Miهن Front, told Afghanistan International that the Taliban administration had sought talks through local influential figures, but he rejected any negotiations with the administration. On the other hand, a source in the Taliban administration said the delegation had been sent to Badakhshan to strengthen security measures on the border with Pakistan, prepare for possible Pakistani movements in the northeastern provinces, and confront opposition forces.
Badakhshan is one of Afghanistan’s northeastern provinces, and Yaftal district is one of its areas. In recent months, the area has drawn more attention amid reports linked to the presence and activity of groups opposed to the Taliban administration.
