KABUL, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Internal differences within Taliban rank have further deepened as fresh fighting between supporters of Taliban leader Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada and his opponents in the western Herat province have claimed at least 20 lives over the past four days, a local official said Friday.
"Up to 20 militants from both sides have been killed in the infighting flared up on Tuesday," a spokesman for provincial administration Jilani Farhad told Xinhua.
The clash, according to the official, erupted between armed men of Mullah Samad, a commander loyal to Taliban leader Akhundzada and his rival commander Mullah Nangiali during which 15 more insurgents from both sides sustained injuries.
A loyalist to Taliban faction led by Mullah Rasoul Akhund, commander Mullah Nangiali has been challenging the rival faction in Shindand district and adjoining areas to expand his grip in the region.
Taliban militants haven't commented on the situation there in Shindand.
Akhundzada replaced Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in late May.
The succession has been challenged by Mullah Rasoul Akhund as illegitimate and since then both sides have clashed in several provinces.
Similar conflict between Mullah Samad and Mullah Nangiali in Shindand district some two months ago had killed score of fighters from both sides.
Fighting between supporters and opponents of Akhundzada, according to local media reports have claimed hundreds of lives from both sides in Farah, Badghis, Ghor, Zabul and other provinces over the past couple of months.
Just weeks ago the armed men of Mullah Ghafar Tofan a commander loyal to Mullah Rasoul Akhund challenged commander Mullah Sia Khan, a loyalist to Akhundzada in Qadis district of Badghis province which claimed dozens of lives from both sides.
Infighting within Taliban in Shindand district has been reported amid ongoing fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban militants in Helmand, Kunduz, Baghlan and Badakhshan provinces.
Afghan political analysts believe that continued infighting among Taliban militants would gradually weaken the armed outfit and eventually facilitate government forces to dislodge militants from their hideouts.
