Armed Taliban Opponents Briefly Seize District in Badakhshan, Highlighting Fragmented Resistance
On July 17, 2026, armed opponents of the Taliban briefly seized control of Jaftal district in Badakhshan province, northeastern Afghanistan, marking the first such takeover since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The attackers, identifying as Sepahian-e Maihan (Soldiers of the Homeland), disarmed local Taliban fighters, hoisted a sky-blue flag with an eagle wing, and withdrew after two hours. The Taliban confirmed the attack, sent army chief of staff Fasihuddin Fitrat to the area, and claimed to have captured several attackers, including leader Abdul Kajum Malang, a former special forces commander of the previous Western-backed government. The Sepahian denied his arrest. The attack is symbolic, showing continued armed resistance, but also highlights fragmentation within the opposition, as Malang previously operated under the National Resistance Front (NRF). Local tensions over gold mining in Badakhshan are noted. Analysts describe anti-Taliban forces as fragmented and disorganized, with the women's protest movement cited as the only consistently active resistance group.
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