Kabul, October 14, 2025 – Deadly infighting has erupted among Taliban factions in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, with clashes over lucrative gold mines leaving more than 10 fighters dead and several injured, local sources and foreign media reported. The violence, centered in the remote Yawan district, pits local Taliban commanders against reinforcements from southern Helmand province, highlighting deepening rifts within the regime over resource control.
The skirmishes, which began on Sunday, stem from disputes over the province’s mineral wealth—particularly gold deposits that generate millions for the Taliban annually. Local fighters accuse Helmand-based groups of seizing mines with backing from provincial governor and security chiefs, siphoning revenues away from grassroots commanders. Among the casualties are the district’s legal affairs director and traffic director, underscoring the high stakes in this internal power struggle.
Intermittent fighting continues, with residents fleeing to nearby villages amid fears of escalation. Badakhshan, rich in lapis lazuli and gold, has long been a flashpoint for Taliban exploitation of untapped resources, estimated at $1 trillion nationally. Tensions have simmered since 2021, fueled by opaque mining contracts favoring outsiders, but this marks a rare open confrontation between allied factions.
Taliban high command in Kabul has yet to intervene, raising alarms of further fragmentation. Analysts warn that unchecked greed over mines could undermine the regime’s fragile cohesion, especially as economic woes and humanitarian crises deepen
