It is said that Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban Defense Minister returned to Kabul, but Qari Fasihuddin, the group’s Chief of Staff of Army, continues to be present in Doabi Bazar of Khost district and is leading the operation to suppress the National Resistance Front forces.
The sources added that two senior military officials of the Taliban asked NRF forces in the two districts of Khost and Andrab to "surrender" to the group, which was rejected by the resistance forces.
There are also reports of massive deployment of Taliban forces in Baghlan province. Sources have also reported clashes between Taliban fighters and the NRF forces in Dara-e Qasan of Andrab district.
Local sources added that Taliban fighters arrested civilians in two districts of Baghlan on Thursday. Amanullah, who had worked in the Ministry of Interior of Afghanistan during the Republic era, had too been arrested from his house in Bano-Andarab district.
The Taliban and the National Resistance Front have not yet officially expressed their views on the developments unfolding in Baghlan province.