The district chief of Dashte Archi district of northern Kunduz province says that the shadow governor of Kunduz province, who had been injured in a blast, was taken to Tajikistan for treatment with the help of Russians. Nassruddin Nazari said that Mullah Abdul Salam was injured in a suicide blast a week back.
Nazari said, “Taliban have direct contact with Russia and Tajikistan. Russia has given ammunition and money to Taliban in Dashte Archi so they (Taliban) are no longer taking money from the people. The Russians transferred Mullah Abdul Salam to Tajikistan for treatment. Someone called me yesterday and told me that he has died and his body will be transferred to Afghanistan soon.”
This local official claimed that the Taliban had taken several Humvee tanks from their fighting with the Afghan forces and had handed them over to the Russians. The Russians had given them arms and ammunition in return. He also added that ISIS is actively present in the Mullah Qalo part of this district. Expressing his concern he said, “The suicide attacker that targeted Mullah Salam was from ISIS. They are about 120 in number.”
A security official confirmed that Salam had been injured in a blast but stated that he had no knowledge of his transfer. He also said that there is no evidence to prove Taliban ties with Russia.
Said Mahmood Danish, the governor’s spokesperson denied the matter and said, “The district chief’s claims are his own. We deny that such a thing has occurred and no other source has confirmed this either.
The Taliban have not said anything on the matter yet.