Anti-Taliban Resistance Intensifies in Badakhshan as Armed Groups Claim Major Gains

KABUL / ISLAMABAD - Armed resistance against the Taliban regime has intensified in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, with opposition groups claiming significant territorial gains and growing public support as fighting enters its second week .

🇦🇫 Afghanistan’s Taliban are slowly losing control over parts of Badakhshan and other regions of Afghanistan.

There have been several attacks against Taliban by anti-Taliban resistance groups in recent days.

The anti-Taliban groups are receiving growing public support.…

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) July 27, 2026

The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) has reported repelling multiple Taliban attacks in the Zebak district before launching a counteroffensive that forced Taliban forces to retreat . The group also claimed to have shot down two Taliban military drones operating in the area .

In a significant development, a newly formed group calling itself the Homeland Soldiers Front (HSF) , led by former Afghan special forces commander Qayum Malang, briefly seized control of the Yaftal-e Payin district center earlier this month - marking the first time the Taliban has lost temporary control of a district since returning to power in 2021 . The group's fighters reportedly raised their flag over the government compound before withdrawing after several hours .

Growing Public Support

According to the National Resistance Front (NRF), over 2,000 young Afghans from Badakhshan, Balkh, Panjshir, and other areas have joined resistance organizations .

Former Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh asserted that the Taliban regime is "not a legitimate government" and that political and armed resistance against it would become more organized, ultimately leading to the end of Taliban rule . Former Afghan diplomat Fayaz Ghiasi said northern and northeastern provinces, including Badakhshan, would be "liberated from Taliban control" .

Former Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali warned that recent developments in Badakhshan could mark the beginning of a gradual public uprising against Taliban rule, though he cautioned that scattered attacks alone are unlikely to pose a strategic threat without broader political coordination .

Taliban Downplays Clashes

Senior Taliban officials have sought to reassure the public, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid saying the group's forces are capable of containing security threats and that residents "should not be concerned" . Information Minister Sher Ahmad Haqqani dismissed the clashes as "rumors" and described opposition fighters as "killers and bandits" lacking public support .

The Taliban governor of Badakhshan has urged armed opposition groups to lay down their arms and resolve grievances through dialogue .

Strategic Implications

Security analysts note that Badakhshan's mountainous terrain, borders with China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, and its history of resistance make it well suited for guerrilla warfare . The reported deployment of additional Taliban ground forces and air assets to reinforce positions suggests growing concern within the group's leadership .

As one analyst noted, the continuing violence suggests opposition groups retain the ability to challenge Taliban control in remote areas, even if only temporarily . The assassination of the Taliban's information director for Badakhshan on Tuesday further highlights persistent security challenges in the province .