Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Taliban Decide to Soften Position against Daesh

Taliban Decide to Soften  Position against Daesh

KABUL - Taliban leader Mullah Habatullah has ordered his followers not to deal with the Islamic State (IS) fighters in an aggressive manner, a reliable security official in the southern zone revealed on Saturday.
The source, wishing anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Habatullah issued the instruction to Taliban's shadow governors and field commanders during a gathering in the Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province.
Taliban Leadership Council members Gul Agha, Naeem Barezai, Sadar Ibrahim and Mullah Sherin, as well as members of Lashkar-i-Dawa and Kashkar-i-Tayyiba attended the event.
Taliban governors for Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Uruzgan, Zabul, Ghazni, Patika, Maidan Wardak and Ghor -- Mullah Mohammadzai, Abdul Manan, Daud Muzamil, Mohammad Din, Baz Mohammad, Mohammad Esa, Pir Agha, Baz Mohammad and Sulaiman Agha -- were in attendance.
A number Taliban commanders also took part in the gathering, where the militant movement's supreme leader asked his men not to indulge in fighting with Daesh, the source disclosed.
Taliban and Daesh frequently clash in parts of Nangarhar, Ghazni, Zabul, Sar-i-Pul and other areas, inflicting casualties on each other.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmad says Mullah Habatullah travels to all provinces to monitor the movement's activities.  “It is nothing new; the Taliban leader regularly monitor operations in provinces.”
Ahmadi, however, declined commenting on Habatullah's instructions.
Asked why the rebel group had watered down their position against Daesh, political analyst Mohammad Hassan Haqyar replied the Afghan government and the US assisted the IS against the Taliban.

The Taliban, therefore, had decided not to fight against the IS, Haqyar argued, saying a halt to violence between the two groups was in the interest of Afghanistan. Musa Qala is controlled by the Taliban. (Pajhwok)