Taliban split by Star-Times January 16, 2022 ethnic rivalries

Ethnic rifts in the Taliban’s ranks have been exposed after a power battle broke out between Uzbeks and Pashtuns.

Hundreds of demonstrators protested in the northern province of Faryab against the arrest of Makhdom Alam, an Uzbek Taliban commander who some believe was the victim of discrimination.

Videos showed civilians carrying weapons in Maimana, the provincial capital, about 730 kilometres northwest of the national capital, Kabul. Taliban fighters appeared to have been stripped of their rifles.

The protests continued yesterday. One Talib was killed and three others, including a civilian, were wounded, sources told the Khaama Press agency.

The Taliban have sent more troops to the province.

An Afghan journalist in Maimana said Alam had been accused of kidnapping three women in the city of Mazari-Sharif in nearby Balkh province. ‘‘The protesters I talked to are saying he is innocent, and he was fired because he is from the Uzbek ethnicity, and the Taliban are discriminating against them.’’

Clashes between Uzbeks and Pashtuns in Faryab are not unusual.

Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, and are concentrated in the south and east. They are also the dominant ethnic group of the Taliban, who originate from the south but have expanded their ranks to incorporate other ethnicities, including Tajiks, Turkmen and Uzbeks.

Rahmathullah Amiri, an independent researcher and analyst, said that in the north, Pashtuns remained the dominant ethnic group within the Taliban, but they were a minority in the geographical area.

‘‘There are trust issues across northern Afghanistan because of things like Uzbeks surrendering to the republic government over the years,’’ he said.

‘‘On the other hand, the Taliban don’t have enough men in the north, because the north was not like the south, where they really established power.’’

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Taliban deputy prime minister, called for peace. ‘‘Your problems will be taken care of, but please do not create a political issue that is not good for you,’’ he tweeted.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, a Taliban deputy spokesman, said: ‘‘It should be noted that the issue of differences between Uzbeks, Tajiks and Pashtuns is untrue.’’