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Roundup: Scores of Taliban killed in infighting in western Afghanistan

Xinhua, March 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Infighting between Taliban rival groups in the western Herat province has claimed scores of lives over the past couple of days, local officials and sources close to the Taliban said Friday.

The fighting flared up between supporters of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor and backers of his arch rival Mullah Mohammad Rasoul in Shindand district of the province 640 km west of Kabul amid mounting pressure by government forces on militants elsewhere in the militancy-hit country.

"The clash erupted in Bakhtabad and Charqala areas of Shindand district a couple of days ago and so far has claimed scores of lives," Mullah Manan Niazi who claims to speak for Mullah Rasoul's group told media.

According to the source, some 80 fighters have been killed from warring sides.

Meanwhile, a commander close to Akhtar Mansoor's camp in talks with media on the condition of anonymity has confirmed infighting in Shindand district, saying Mansoor's fighters have upper hand in the conflict.

Security officials in the western region have also confirmed the clash among Taliban militants, saying government forces will not intervene unless the lives of civilians are in danger.

Locals in talks with media have also confirmed the infighting, saying Mullah Samad, a commander of Mullah Mansoor, attacked the positions of Mullah Nangiali who is loyal to Mullah Rasoul in Zirkoh area four days ago and so far scores of people from both sides have been killed.

According to the locals, Mullah Samad has been injured after capturing several villages from rival group and Mullah Nangiali fled the area.

Fighting between supporters of Mullah Mansoor and backers of his opponent Mullah Rasoul have occurred several times in parts of the conflict-ridden country since confirmation of the death of Taliban former leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in July last year.

Afghan and U.S. forces have reported fragmentation among Taliban ranks in the southern Helmand province and according to the military officials, presently three Taliban groups have been operating in Taliban former stronghold of the troubled Helmand province.

Meanwhile, government forces in crackdown on Taliban have surrounded Taliban fighters in Darqad district of the northern Takhar province over the past three days, attempting to eliminate the insurgents there, provincial government spokesman Sunatullah Timor told Xinhua on Friday. Enditem