Mullah Manan Niazi, said to be the deputy leader for the Taliban dissident group led by Mullah Abdul Rasool, was wounded last night in clashes with a number of Taliban fighters, sources spoke to TKG on the condition of anonymity.
According to the source, Niazi was at the ICU unit of the Herat regional hospital.
Another three members of the Taliban dissident group were also killed in clashes, said the source, and three others wounded.
Security authorities in the western Afghan province have yet to comment.
Mullah Abdul Manan Niazi is deputy to Mullah Mohammad Rasool, who split from the Taliban in 2015 after Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was chosen to succeed the group’s killed founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar.
Divisions in the Taliban ranks emerged following the revelation in July that longtime leader Mullah Omar was dead.
Mullah Omar’s deputy, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, claimed power, sparking a battle over the group’s leadership.
Mullah Rasool was among those Taliban commanders challenging Mansoor’s appointment as leader. In 2015, he formally split from the Taliban and appointed as leader of the faction.
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