A trustworthy insider within the Taliban has disclosed that Qari Wasil, the security commander of the group in Badakhshan, has been relieved of his duties on charges of “drug trafficking and misappropriation of government resources.”
According to a source from the Taliban’s governor’s office in Badakhshan, tensions between Qari Wasil and the Taliban governor in Badakhshan on Tuesday, December 26, resulted in his dismissal from his position.
The source reports that following the arrest of Qari Wasil’s senior son, along with three accomplices, on charges of trafficking 50 kilograms of “marijuana,” senior Taliban officials took decisive action to remove him from his role.
In a written statement issued by the Taliban leadership on December 21, it was announced that Mullah Azizullah Omar would replace Qari Wasil as the security commander of the group in Badakhshan.
Qari Wasil enjoys the support of Faseehuddin Fetrat, the head of the Taliban’s army.
Tensions among local Taliban officials in Badakhshan escalated when native members of the group demanded a more significant role in government offices within the province.
Residents of Badakhshan assert that the predominantly Pashtun Taliban are dismissing local individuals from their duties and replacing them with their personnel.
