Infighting among the Taliban militants has left 30 militants dead, including 20 Pakistani members of the group, in Haskamina district of Nangarhar, a local official confirmed.
The infighting erupted on Thursday, June 24, in Oghaz area of Haskamina district and lasted for almost an hour, said Attaullah Khogyani, spokesperson for Nangarhar governor. He added several bases of the militants have also been burned as a result of the infighting.
The local official described the incident as the first deadly infighting among the militants in the eastern Nangarhar province.
He, however, did not provide details about what caused the deadly infighting but noted many Pakistani militants have been killed recently in clashes against Afghan defense and security forces – implying Pakistani and Afghan nationality of the militants as a possible cause.
Nangarhar is a volatile province where the Taliban operate actively in a number of districts. It shares border with Pakistan making it easy for the militants to actively recruit from Pakistan and move freely back and forth between the two countries.
There are many reports indicating the presence of Pakistani nationals, even the country’s intelligence operatives and high level military personnel, among the Taliban militants.
The group, however, has always rejected it.
