KABUL: Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Badakhshan has become a flashpoint of Taliban regime infighting over gold mines, illicit wealth, rival armed networks and criminal resource capture.
Afghan Taliban leadership ordered investigations into the regime officials accused of illegal mining, drug trafficking and abuse of local residents.
𝗨𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗸𝗵𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗻
An unverified letter purportedly issued by the Taliban administration indicates that, following a joint report of the… https://t.co/qysSZ8a7o1— Afghan Analyst (@AfghanAnalyst2) June 2, 2026
Badakhshan strips away Taliban myth of ideological unity and exposes bitter realities and ruthless struggle for power and fortune between rival militant factions who are fighting not for governance or public welfare, but for gold, narco-money, illicit enrichment and coercive dominance.
The intensifying conflict over Badakhshan’s gold reserves exposes deep Taliban distrust and lust for wealth, with growing anger toward Kandahari Taliban leadership accused of attempting to capture mines, revenues, state authority and economic spoils for its own while attempting to marginalise local Taliban actors.
Mullah Juma Khan Fateh, Taliban Deputy Governor of Zabul, claims that he commands 10,000 fighters is a blunt warning from an armed faction leader prepared to flex muscle against Kahandaris amid internal struggles over power and wealth.
جدال بر سر چپاول طلای بدخشان؛ ملا فاتح: ده هزار جنگجو در اختیار دارم
به دنبال کوتاهکردن دست طالبان بدخشانی از چپاول معادن بدخشان از سوی طالبان قندهاری، ملا جمعه خان فاتح، معاون والی طالبان در زابل، در سخنرانیاش در ولسوالی نسی ادعا کرد که دستکم ۱۰ هزار جنگجو در اختیار دارد.… pic.twitter.com/RosyPmvvfV
— Aamaj News (@aamajnews_24) June 1, 2026
Taliban leader’s order to investigate officials accused of illegal mining, narcotics trafficking and oppression of residents indicates that Taliban governance system is deeply characterised by crime, profiteering, predatory extraction and abuse of local and faction’s power.
Taliban officials face allegations of fortunes being swiftly made after the takeover, while different factions and their militant commanders continue to fight over mines beneath the public narrative of Islam and frequent street spectacles of harsh punishment for petty crimes.
Badakhshan reveals the bitter realities of Taliban rule, which includes gold mafias, narco-economy, armed patronage, intimidation of civilians and competing militant commanders pretending to be government administrators.
Local residents face exploitation while Taliban insiders compete for power and fortune.
When Taliban took over, they promised order, justice, accountability and anti-corruption action. Badakhshan reveals the militant network only survives as a coalition of militant warlords who use religion to exercise unaccountable power over people and resources inside Afghanistan, while externally seeking funds from competing regional powers who are willing to use them as their proxy.
