The Taliban Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday that the group has killed Mawlawi Mehdi, the former head of the Taliban intelligence for Bamiyan. The Taliban said that Mehdi was killed by the group’s border forces in Herat.
Independent sources are yet to confirm the death of Mawlawi Mehdi.
Mawlawi Mehdi was the only Hazara commander of the Taliban who was briefly appointed as the head of the Taliban's intelligence in Bamiyan province after this group took control of Afghanistan.
After being removed from this position, he went to his hometown in Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul province.
He announced to have parted with the Taliban due to discrimination against Hazaras and Shias of Afghanistan.
Later, he mobilized hundreds of his armed followers in Balkhab district and fought against the Taliban, but Taliban suppressed Mehdi’s forces.
Following the military operations of the Taliban in Balkhab, the United Nations announced that 27,000 residents of this district had been displaced due to the conflicts.
A number of human rights organisations reported that the Taliban killed civilians during their military operations in Balkhab.
