KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban confirmed that “armed attackers” briefly took control of Yaftal-e Payeen district in northeastern Badakhshan province, marking the first reported capture of a district center by anti-Taliban fighters since the group returned to power in 2021.
In an interview with local media, Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the Taliban police command in Badakhshan, said the attack occurred overnight while local Taliban officials were away on Friday leave. He described the attackers as “irresponsible individuals” and said they fled the area after Taliban forces arrived.
Earlier on Friday, local sources reported that a newly established armed opposition group calling itself “Sepahian-e Mihan” (Soldiers of the Homeland) launched a surprise attack on Yaftal-e Payeen district, targeting the district administration headquarters, police command, and Taliban intelligence offices.
According to the sources, the group succeeded in taking control of the district center for several hours. Videos and photographs circulated on social media appeared to show a blue flag flying over the district administration compound in place of the Taliban flag, while footage from the area contained sounds of gunfire and clashes.
A source familiar with the matter identified the group’s commander as Abdul Qayum Malang, a former member of Afghanistan’s special forces under the previous Western-backed government.
Following the attack, Taliban Chief of Army Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat traveled to Yaftal-e Payeen to assess the situation. Speaking to reporters at the district police headquarters, Fitrat called the assailants “troublemakers” who sought to “stand against the system” but failed to achieve their objectives.
Fitrat said most of those involved in the incident had been arrested and that Taliban forces were continuing to search for the remaining individuals.
The Taliban did not disclose the identities of those detained.
In a statement posted on a Facebook page under its name, Sepahian-e Mihan claimed it launched coordinated attacks on the districts of Yaftal-e Payeen, Kishm and Yawan. It said its fighters briefly seized the center of Yaftal-e Payeen, captured several Taliban members, and seized weapons and equipment.
Little public information is available about Sepahian-e Mihan, which appears to be a recently established armed movement. Friday’s operation marks its first publicly claimed military action.
The incident comes as Badakhshan, a mountainous province bordering Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, has emerged as one of Afghanistan’s most volatile regions in recent years. In addition to sporadic attacks claimed by anti-Taliban groups, the province has experienced local unrest, disputes between Taliban commanders, and conflicts over control of mines and other revenue sources, including drug-related activities.
The Taliban maintains that no organized armed opposition poses a serious challenge to its authority. However, several groups, including the National Resistance Front and the Afghanistan Freedom Front, continue to carry out guerrilla attacks against Taliban forces in different parts of the country.
