A disgruntled local Taliban commander in Afghanistan's north-eastern Badakhshan Province, Juma Khan Fateh, has laid down his arms, ending days of armed tension with Taliban government forces, Afghan media reported on Monday.
In recent days, Taliban Chief of Army Staff Fasihuddin Fitrat, himself an influential figure from Badakhshan, and special operations forces were deployed to Fateh's home district after he refused to hand over weapons to the government, pro-Taliban media Hurriyat reported.
Local media reported that Fateh negotiated a surrender deal after Taliban government forces tightened pressure around his positions in the mountainous Nusi district, which reportedly included conditions for disarmament.
A social media image shows Fateh being airlifted to the provincial capital of Faizabad inside a military helicopter alongside the Taliban's army chief
Fateh is considered an influential commander, who played a key role in capturing Badakhshan Province during the Taliban's rapid military sweep in 2021, which led to the collapse of the internationally backed Afghan government. In his last government role, he briefly served as a deputy governor before quitting, citing personal reasons.
In recent leaked audio clips, he emphasized his allegiance to the Taliban's government while protesting what he described as heavy-handed behaviour and house-to-house searches by specialized intelligence units deployed from outside the province.
Badakhshan, bordering Tajikistan, China and Pakistan, has faced growing security tensions, including assassinations, anti-Taliban armed attacks and protests by local farmers against the Taliban government's poppy-eradication campaign.