Afghanistan United Front Intensifies Operations Against Taliban Regime in Kandahar and Helmand

KABUL: The Afghanistan United Front (AUF) has intensified its armed campaign against the Taliban regime, claiming fresh attacks in Kandahar and Helmand provinces that killed three Taliban security personnel.

According to the group, two Taliban personnel were killed in an operation targeting a security post in the Imam Rabat area of Nawa district, Helmand. The United Front also claimed that two Kalashnikov rifles were seized during the operation.

The group further claimed responsibility for an attack in Bagh Pul Bazaar in Kandahar, where it said one Taliban security official was killed. The claim has not been independently verified, and Taliban authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported casualties.

The latest claims come as the Afghanistan United Front has stepped up attacks against Taliban positions in several parts of Afghanistan.

The group, led by former Afghan special forces commander General Sami Sadat, announced the launch of its military campaign against the Taliban in August. It later claimed dozens of operations in multiple provinces.

The United Front says its campaign will continue across Afghanistan, including from Kandahar and Helmand to other provinces such as Balkh and Badakhshan.

The reported attacks have also coincided with increased security measures in Kandahar.

Taliban authorities in Kandahar recently ordered police commanders in 11 districts to strengthen patrols and improve coordination among security and administrative bodies following reports of attacks in the province.

Kandahar is particularly significant because it is the Taliban’s historical centre and the reported home base of its supreme leader.

The Afghanistan United Front is one of several armed opposition groups challenging Taliban rule.

Other groups, including the National Resistance Front and Afghanistan Freedom Front, have also claimed attacks against Taliban personnel and positions in different parts of the country.

The reported increase in attacks has led security analysts to examine whether anti-Taliban groups are developing a more sustained operational capability. However, the scale of these activities and their impact on Taliban control remain difficult to independently assess.

The Taliban administration continues to maintain that it has established security across Afghanistan, while resistance groups say their operations demonstrate continuing opposition to Taliban rule.

The latest incidents therefore add to the ongoing dispute over the security situation and the extent of the Taliban regime’s control in parts of Afghanistan.