Disgruntled Taliban commander Mawlawi Mahdi Mujahid has been killed by Taliban border forces in Herat when he was on his way to enter Iran, according to a statement by Taliban’s Ministry of Defence.
According to Afghan news outlet Khaama Press Agency, the Defence Ministry referred to Mujahid as a “rebel”.
The Defence Ministry stated that the commander was attempting to flee the country, with officials saying that he had rebelled against the de facto government.
Mawlawi Mehdi was the only Shiite and Hazara commander in the Taliban. The reason for friction between the Taliban and him are not yet clear.
The Defence Ministry said that Mujahid was the “leader of rebels” in a district in Sar-e-Pol province in the north.
A Reuters report quoting a Taliban source said that Mahdi had a falling out with the Taliban leadership and had revolted against it.
KHaama Press Agency said that Mujahid sought more Hazara participation in Taliban government, but Taliban had disregarded the demand.
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