Taliban deploy elite forces and senior commanders to Afghanistan’s mineral-rich Badakhshan province as internal rivalries over lucrative gold mines threaten to spiral out of control.

A newly deployed Taliban military unit of approximately 150 fighters entered the district centre of Shukai in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province on Wednesday, as tensions over control of gold mines continued to escalate, local sources said.

Equipped with advanced weaponry, including laser-guided systems, the reinforcement highlights growing alarm in Kabul over violent disputes involving gold mines that pit local residents against Taliban-linked commanders.

The deployment occurs against a backdrop of mounting unrest in a province renowned for its significant reserves of gold and other valuable minerals. Badakhshan borders Tajikistan, China, and Pakistan, making control over its natural resources not only an economic prize but also a strategic concern for the Taliban regime.

Sources indicate that Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban’s army chief of staff, has travelled to the region in a direct effort to de-escalate tensions. His visit underscores the seriousness with which Taliban leadership views the situation, as internal power struggles risk undermining the group’s authority in a key northern province.

Disputes Over Mining Rights Fuel Local Resistance

Disagreements centre on mining rights in districts including Shukai, Maymay, Nusay, and Kof Ab. Local Taliban commanders, some with ties to Juma Khan Fateh – the Taliban’s deputy governor in Zabul province – have reportedly resisted central directives and seized land containing gold deposits.

Earlier this week, Abdul Matin Rahimzai, the Taliban’s head of mines and petroleum in Badakhshan, visited Shukai and warned local forces against interfering in mining activities. His intervention followed reports that gold extraction had been halted in parts of the province due to the escalating conflict.

The media office of Badakhshan’s Taliban governor, Mohammad Ismail Ghaznawi, confirmed that the governor, along with mining officials and other authorities, toured the affected districts to address the crisis. Despite these efforts, sources warn that further arrests and developments are likely in the coming days.

Arrests and Violence Highlight Factional Rivalries

The current tensions follow the recent detention by Taliban intelligence of Musa Kaka, a commander in Nusay district and a close ally of Juma Khan Fateh. Armed groups associated with Fateh are accused of seizing gold-rich lands in Shukai, leading to direct confrontations with both local residents and other Taliban factions.

At least two people have been killed and ten others wounded in recent clashes between residents and Taliban members over mine control. These incidents reveal deep fractures within the Taliban movement, where local commanders often prioritize personal and factional economic interests over central authority.

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have struggled to manage competition over natural resources. Badakhshan’s mineral wealth has become a flashpoint, with various commanders and allied networks seeking to monopolize extraction operations for revenue generation. Gold mining, in particular, offers substantial informal income streams that are difficult for Kabul to fully regulate or tax.

Broader Implications for Taliban Governance and Regional Stability

Analysts note that these resource-driven conflicts expose the limits of Taliban cohesion. While the group projects an image of unified rule, provincial dynamics frequently involve patronage networks, ethnic loyalties, and personal alliances that predate the 2021 takeover. Juma Khan Fateh’s influence, extending from Zabul in the south to operations in the northeast, illustrates how cross-regional networks complicate central control.

The involvement of advanced military units and senior figures like Fitrat suggests Kabul fears that unchecked local rivalries could evolve into broader instability. Badakhshan’s strategic location along sensitive borders adds another layer of concern, as unrest could potentially spill over or be exploited by external actors.

Local residents, caught between competing armed groups, have borne the brunt of the violence. Many view the mines as community resources rather than spoils for Taliban factions. The halt in gold extraction not only affects immediate livelihoods but also signals potential economic disruption in an already impoverished region.

Taliban officials have remained silent publicly on the latest deployment, consistent with their tendency to avoid acknowledging internal divisions. However, the rapid response – including troop movements and high-level visits – indicates proactive damage control.

Resource Curse in Post-2021 Afghanistan

Afghanistan possesses vast untapped mineral wealth, estimated in the trillions of dollars by some assessments. Under Taliban rule, efforts to formalize mining have clashed with entrenched informal practices. In Badakhshan, as in other provinces, control of mines has become a key source of revenue and influence for local power brokers.

The current crisis echoes similar disputes reported elsewhere in the country, where competition for emerald, lapis lazuli, and other resources has led to intra-Taliban friction. Observers warn that without effective mechanisms for equitable resource management and transparent revenue sharing, such conflicts will persist and potentially intensify.

As the situation develops, questions remain about the long-term stability of Taliban governance in remote provinces. The deployment to Shukai may temporarily restore order, but underlying grievances over land, mining rights, and power distribution continue to simmer.

Local sources anticipate possible additional security operations and arrests aimed at neutralizing influential commanders challenging central directives. Whether these measures will succeed in quelling tensions or merely postpone larger confrontations remains to be seen.

The people of Badakhshan, meanwhile, continue to navigate daily life amid armed movements and uncertainty, hoping for resolution that prioritizes community welfare over factional gains. The province’s gold, once a potential source of development, has instead highlighted the challenges of resource governance in a fractured political landscape.