Juma Khan Fateh, a dissident Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, has publicly declared his long-standing opposition to the presence of foreign armed groups in the country, specifically naming Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). In a statement shared on his X account, Fateh said he has opposed these foreign entities from the very first day and continues to hold this position.
Support for Actions Against Foreign Groups
Fateh expressed firm support for any actions or attacks aimed at suppressing and eliminating these groups to prevent civilian casualties. He emphasized that the Darwaz region and the strategic mines of Badakhshan remain fully under his forces' control, declaring that they will not allow any encroachment on Darwaz and Badakhshan. “Until our last breath, we will not allow anyone to encroach on Darwaz and Badakhshan,” he said.
Context of Taliban’s Alleged Safe Havens
The development comes amid repeated assertions by international bodies and regional countries that the Taliban regime provides safe havens for foreign armed groups. Fateh’s statement highlights internal dissent within Taliban ranks over the presence of such groups, which have been a source of tension between Afghanistan and its neighbors, particularly Pakistan.
