According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, work in some mines has been temporarily halted until new mining rules and regulations are developed following complaints of illegal mining and mine seizure._x000D_
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According to Afghan media, an earlier order by the Taliban’s supreme leader to stop illegal mining directly threatened the economic interests of some local Taliban commanders, which has created tension within the Afghan Taliban leadership, and control of minerals has become a major source of disagreement between local Taliban figures and the central leadership in Badakhshan._x000D_
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The ban led to weeks of tension between local Taliban commander Juma Khan Fateh, who is at odds with the central leadership, and senior Taliban officials, which reportedly escalated to the point that both sides were ready for a possible armed clash._x000D_
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On the other hand, local workers have also protested against the continued closure of mines in Badakhshan. The protesters said that the workshops of poor, low-income citizens have been closed for almost a month, while mining projects linked to influential people continue uninterrupted.
