Taliban in Flames from Opponents in Northern Afghanistan; Emergency Meeting Held to Curb Heavy Losses.
The sixth joint meeting of provincial governors, police commanders, and intelligence heads of the Taliban in five northern provinces was held in Faryab as the group faces a fresh wave of opposition attacks in northern Afghanistan.
The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, Taliban governor of Balkh and a close ally of Hibatullah Akhundzada, with officials stating its purpose was to “strengthen coordination.”
However, the timing of the gathering alongside rising clashes reflects the Taliban’s serious concern about the security situation in the north.
Local sources report that in recent months, targeted attacks and armed ambushes in Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Jowzjan, and Samangan have intensified, causing significant casualties among Taliban forces.
Sources emphasize that in some cases, the number of Taliban killed and wounded has been high, imposing a costly toll on the group.
While unofficial reports speak of rising casualties, Taliban officials remain silent on exact numbers.
At the same time, the Taliban have adopted strict control over media coverage of these attacks.
Independent Afghan media are effectively prohibited from reporting details of clashes and Taliban casualties, with only external media or local sources covering such incidents.
In the Faryab meeting, discussions included the creation of new military units and the construction of a large religious school for returning children in Balkh;
an initiative seen as part of the Taliban’s strategy to strengthen ideological influence and control over social space in the north amid increasing security pressures.
