The skirmish was taking place in southern Zabul province between fighters loyal to the widely-recognised Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour and followers of Mansoor Dadullah, a deputy of splinter-group leader Mohamed Rasool who announced his own faction Tuesday. “We will be asking the United Nations why Hazaras are being killed”.
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Meanwhile, spokesman for Zabul provincial government, Sayal said that the clash between warring sides ceased today (Monday) but both sides are on alert and strengthening their positions.
“We ask the government to find the reason behind this serial killing of Hazaras in Afghanistan and bring the perpetrators to justice”, Ghulam Ali, a protester, said.
“These are all false accusations”.
The jihadist group, which controls large swaths of Iraq and Syria, started to establish a presence in Zabul earlier this year, notes Al Jazeera.
Rasool was elected “supreme leader” of the Taliban last week by a faction that does not support Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who assumed power after the death of Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar.
Battles between Taliban factions in Afghanistan over the choice of a new leader have killed around 50 men from each side. The fighters blame Mansoor’s greediness for the split.
Niazi said that the new group did not approve of suicide bombings and called for an end to infighting among all Afghans.
According to Afghan officials, the Hazara hostages were captured by ISIL fighters more than a month ago, and were held in the Arghandab district in Zabul Province.
“Anyone who does not acknowledge Mullah Mansoor is our enemy”, he said. “Nothing can stop us from continuing our jihad”.
“Mullah Mansour’s men wanted Mansoor Dadullah to surrender or face action”.
The spokesman said Mansoor’s appointment initially caused a rift within the Afghan Taliban, with Omar’s family refusing to pledge allegiance to him. Afghan News Agency on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook.
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U.S. President Barack Obama’s decision to review plans for a reduction in USA forces next year was greeted with hope by the administration in Kabul, which had feared being left alone by its most important and reliable ally.
