KABUL – A commander of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), an anti-Taliban armed resistance group, has been killed in clashes with Taliban forces in northern Baghlan province, local sources said on Wednesday.
The commander, identified as Qayum Khan, died during fighting in the Kohgodaie mountains of Nahrin district on Tuesday night, September 2. According to sources, Taliban fighters launched an assault on NRF positions, sparking a battle that lasted around 40 minutes and left at least four Taliban members dead.
Neither the Taliban nor the NRF has yet issued an official statement on the incident.
The NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, the son of late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, has emerged as the most prominent armed resistance group since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. While its stronghold lies in Panjshir, NRF units have also maintained a presence in Baghlan, Takhar, and other northern provinces.
Though the group claims to represent a broad front of opposition forces, its activities have largely been confined to guerrilla-style attacks and clashes in mountainous regions.
Reports of fighting between NRF and Taliban forces surface regularly, but independent verification is difficult due to restrictions on journalists and access.
Amnesty International and other rights groups have accused the Taliban of committing war crimes in Panjshir and Baghlan, including extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, and collective punishment of civilians suspected of supporting resistance fighters.
The Taliban deny the allegations, claiming they have restored nationwide security.
Still, sporadic battles with resistance groups highlight the fragile security environment, particularly in northern Afghanistan, where resentment against Taliban rule remains strong.
