After Chinese Nationals Killed, Taliban Move to Replace Local Tajik Fighters With Pashtun Units in Badakhshan

The Taliban administration has begun replacing local Tajik-origin fighters in Afghanistan’s northern Badakhshan province with Pashtun fighters following the killing of five Chinese nationals inside Tajik territory, sources familiar with the situation say.

According to multiple local accounts, Taliban leadership has decided to disarm and relocate Tajik-origin fighters and shift control of mining revenues, land allocation and local taxation from Badakhshan-based members to officials linked with Kandahari Taliban networks.

Deployment of non-local Taliban units

Sources confirm that a Taliban delegation, accompanied by members of “Unit 01,” travelled to Darwaz district two days ago in order to arrest local commander Jummah Fateh, who reportedly fled before they arrived. Around 120 members of the unit were later seen in Shighnan and other areas moving back towards Faizabad.

Taliban fighters from Unit 01 have now been stationed in Shikai, Nusay and Maimay districts, where they are reportedly disarming local fighters or ordering them to relocate.

One local fighter in Baharak who had guarded Jummah Fateh was reportedly detained by Taliban forces.

Senior Taliban officials—including the deputy governor of Badakhshan, intelligence chiefs, and representatives from Kabul’s Interior Ministry and General Directorate of Intelligence—were also present in Darwaz, pushing local fighters to obey central orders.

Tighter control over border contacts

The Taliban delegation instructed fighters stationed near the Tajikistan border to end all direct contact or meetings with Tajik guards. From now on, all communication must be approved centrally, sources say.

Jummah Fateh has now been officially reassigned as Taliban governor of Dasht-e-Archi district in Kunduz, while his brother and followers were transferred from the Darwaz battalion to a new deployment near Jowzjan. However, some refused transfer and remain in hiding.

Possible leadership reshuffles

Sources believe Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada may soon remove Army Chief of Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat, which would signal growing internal tensions among Badakhshan-based Taliban factions.

The new Taliban governor in Badakhshan is expected to forcibly disarm remaining local fighters and impose tighter control over mining revenue, fueling anger among local ranks.

Link to killings of Chinese nationals

This reshuffling follows a series of incidents in which five Chinese nationals were killed near the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. Three of them died in an attack in Ishkashim district allegedly involving Taliban-linked militants.

Sources claim the attack was connected to fighters believed to have links with Eastern Turkistan militants, despite Taliban denials about hosting foreign fighters.

Tajik authorities say border forces became involved after clashes near Nusay village, prompting Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to order increased security along the frontier.

Mining control and corruption concerns

Locals in Badakhshan say the Taliban Ministry of Mines continues to block permit applications and has halted local mining operations. According to sources, senior mining officials are being replaced with Kandahar-linked commanders as Taliban leaders seek tighter control over valuable mineral sites.

Several Badakhshan miners complain that their applications are deliberately delayed while access is quietly granted to others connected with Taliban authorities in Kabul and Kandahar.

Background

Badakhshan—bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan—is a strategically sensitive province historically associated with Tajik fighters, smuggling routes, and high-value mineral deposits.

Since taking power, the Taliban have faced regional pressure to ensure no Uyghur, Tajik or anti–Central Asia militants operate from Afghan soil—especially under China’s security concerns in Xinjiang and ongoing tensions with Tajikistan.

Recent incidents involving Chinese nationals have placed additional diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, prompting internal reshuffles and stricter border control measures.