Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, announced that Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s supreme leader, has removed Juma Khan Fateh from his position as Deputy Governor of Zabul Province and appointed Faizullah Tamim, the former head of the Directorate of Standards and Quality, as his replacement. The new decree does not assign any new responsibility to Juma Khan Fateh.
On Monday, June 22, Mujahid announced the latest appointments within the Taliban’s administrative structure through a post on X. According to the decree, a number of senior officials—including the Director General of the Directorate of Standards and Quality, the Chief of Staff of the Senior Deputy Ministry of Interior, the Deputy Minister for Technology and Logistics at the Ministry of Defense, and the Deputy Minister of Borders, Ethnic Affairs, and Tribes—have been reassigned.
Among those affected by the reshuffle, Juma Khan Fateh is the only official who has been removed from his post without being given a new position.
Meanwhile, informed sources told media outlets on Saturday that tensions among Taliban members in Badakhshan have intensified, raising the likelihood of an intra-group confrontation. According to these sources, the Taliban leader has labeled Juma Khan Fateh a “rebel” and ordered action against him.
The term “rebel” is commonly used by the Taliban to describe opponents and individuals who challenge or protest against the group. In previous years, the Taliban have similarly sidelined or taken action against dissatisfied members and commanders under the same designation.
Sources had earlier reported that several rounds of talks between Juma Khan Fateh and senior Taliban officials—including Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban Army Chief of Staff—ended without any agreement being reached.
At the same time, reports indicate that the Taliban have deployed a large number of fighters from various parts of the country toward the gateways of Badakhshan in an effort to confront the ethnic Tajik commander.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
