Taliban officials in the Kohistan district of northeastern Kapisa province have reported the death of a mosque imam. The armed anti-Taliban group, known as the Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF), has taken responsibility for the killing.
According to Taliban officials, the deceased individual, Mohammad Zarif, was killed on Tuesday evening in Mohammed Jankhel village by an IED. The officials did not provide details regarding the discovery of the mine inside the mosque.
AFF spokesperson Nusrat Fateh stated that the imam had prevented people from attending the funeral ceremony of Akmal Ameer, a former commander of the front who was killed by the Taliban a few months ago. According to Fateh, Mohammad Zarif collaborated with the Taliban intelligence in recent times.
Local sources have also confirmed the incident, stating that Zarif, 23, was a member of the Taliban and was killed by a hand grenade inside the mosque last night.
The AFF and the National Resistance Front (NRF) are the two known groups engaged in armed clashes with the Taliban since the group’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
The killing of Mohammad Zarif is the latest in a series of attacks by the AFF against the Taliban. The AFF has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks in recent months, including the killing of several Taliban officials. The group has vowed to continue its fight against the Taliban until they are driven from power.
