Taliban Govt's Deputy PM Mullah Baradar Dismisses Claims Of His Death In Reported Infighting Over Panjshir

It was claimed that Mullah Baradar was badly wounded in a gunfire that took place over an alleged disagreement among the Taliban leaders on how to resolve the Panjshir situation.

New Delhi: Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban government Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in an audio message, confirmed that he was alive and also said that he was not injured, TOLOnews reported. 

The clarification comes as unconfirmed reports stated that Mullah Baradar was badly wounded in a gunfire that took place over an alleged disagreement among the Taliban leaders on how to resolve the Panjshir situation.

As per TOLOnews, the message, tweeted by Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem has the Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban government confirming that he is alive and is not injured. 

Earlier it was reported that a power struggle between two senior Taliban leaders - group co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Afghan Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani, resulted in gunfire in Kabul on Friday night.

According to some accounts, the incident took place over an alleged disagreement among the Taliban leaders on how to resolve the Panjshir situation, news agency ANI reported. 

ANI cited an unverified Twitter handle of Panjshir Observer that had shared information about the reported gunfight. 

"Gunfire last night in Kabul was a power struggle between two senior Taliban leaders. Forces loyal to Anas Haqqani and Mullah Baradar fought over a disagreement on how to resolve the Panjshir situation. Mullah Baradar was reportedly injured and is receiving treatment in Pakistan," the tweet read. 

As per the agency report, another unverified Twitter handle of Northern Alliance claimed that Mullah Baradar had urged his Taliban forces not to fight the Panjshir resistance forces.

"Baradar urged his Taliban not to fight the Panjshirs and recalled them to Kabul, Mullah Baradar himself was badly wounded he was taken to Pakistan for treatment. The media that covered that Panjshir fell, shame on you and you have no honour!" Northern Alliance tweeted. 

It was further claimed that because of Taliban propaganda, the media attention remained on Panjshir and did not cover the shootout of Taliban leaders.

"We have successfully defended more than 1200 Taliban casualties. Due to the fact, there was a conflict between Anas Haqqani and Mullah Baradar and there was a shootout between Taliban leaders in Kabul, the Taliban propaganda deceived everyone so that the media attention was on the Panjshir and did not cover the shootout of Taliban leaders. Now the spirit of the Taliban is suppressed in the Panjshir, their leaders are fighting among themselves for power," tweeted Northern Alliance.

The Taliban had last week declared control of the Panjshir Valley. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid held a press conference in Kabul to announce that the war in Afghanistan has ended, and now the Taliban hope "Afghanistan to become a stable country", TOLOnews reported.
 
Later, Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the Resistance Front, in an audio message on his Facebook page continued to claim that the resistance forces are present in Panjshir and continue to fight Taliban forces, TOLOnews informed.

So while the Taliban claims to have captured the Afghan province of Panjshir, Afghanistan's NRF continues to deny the same.