Local sources in Afghanistan’s north-eastern Panjshir province confirmed to KabulNow that the Taliban’s intelligence agents arrested Obaidullah Mubarez, a commander of the group, on charges of having membership of the Islamic State – Khurasan Province (ISKP) three days ago.
The commander is a resident of Shutal district of Panjshir. He served as the Taliban’s district governor in Shutal and is a close ally of the Taliban’s former governor for Panjshir, Qudratullah Amini.
Confirming his arrest over alleged connection with the ISKP, two sources among the Taliban in Panjshir said that he is now held by the Taliban’s intelligence agency in Kabul.
Before the Taliban recaptured Kabul city in August 2021, Mubarez was imprisoned on charges of cooperation with the anti-government armed forces at Bagram prison by the Republic government. He was freed when the Taliban recaptured Kabul and soon was appointed as district governor of Panjshir’s Shutal district.
Months after retaking the power, the Taliban claimed that they have completely suppressed the ISKP. Contrary to it, the ISKP have carried out deadly attacks against civilians, diplomatic missions, and Taliban convoys in different parts of Afghanistan since then.
Mubarez’s family and the Taliban have not publicly commented regarding his arrest.
In its latest attack in Kabul, the ISKP killed as many as 16 employees of the Taliban foreign ministry in January.
