Infighting among Taliban factions claims 4 lives in northern Afghanistan

At least four insurgents have been killed as clash flared up between two factions of Taliban outfit in Dand-e-Ghori district of the northern Baghlan province, local officials said Monday.

"The clash erupted between supporters of Mawlawi Lal and his opponent Mawlawi Yunus in Mangal area of Dand-e-Ghori district outside provincial Pul-e-Khumri on Sunday night and so far four insurgents from both sides have been killed and six others injured," a local official told Xinhua but refused to be identified due to security concerns.

According to the official, Mawlawi Lal had served as shadow governor for Baghlan province in the past. However, he was replaced recently with Mawlawi Yunus, but the reshuffle has triggered internal differences and eventually to gun battle which has been continuing.

Another local official on the condition of anonymity has also confirmed the infighting between Taliban in Dand-e-Ghori district.

Confirming the infighting, villagers in Dand-e-Ghori in talks with Xinhua said the clash between supporters of Mawlawi Lal and his opponents led by Mawlawi Yunus have killed several fighters from both sides.

Taliban militants haven't commented on the report.

Since confirmation of the death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed in August last year and his succession by Mullah Akhtar Mansoor the armed outfit has faced internal differences. The differences however, further widened after the murder of Mullah Mansoor in U.S. drone attack in May and his sucession by Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada whose leadership has been challenged by Mawlawi Mohammad Rasoul Akhund.

Fighting between supporters of Akundzada and his opponent led by Rasoul Akhund has claimed hundreds of lives elsewhere in the country over the past several months. Endit