KABUL – A Jamiat-e-Islami commander from Faryab province, Ghulam NabiShuja, has joined the Taliban taking with him at least 100 of his fighters,local officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The commander was from Garzewan district, officials confirmed.

Mohammad Naeem Andarabi, police security chief in the province, confirmedthe report and said the commander joined Taliban ranks because of personaldisputes in the district.

“In the past two days, we had a meeting in the provincial building underthe leadership of the governor and the provincial NDS chief was alsopresent at the meeting. It was decided to send informant troops to thedistrict and air strikes may also be carried out against anti-governmentoppositions in the district,” Andarabi said.

Reports indicate that the reason Shuja gave for crossing sides was that theFaryab authorities have not investigated the murder of four of his fightersin the Dar-e-Zang village of Garzewan district.

Shuja claims that Mullah Faizullah, the acting district governor, wasinvolved in the murder of his men.

But Faizullah rejected the claims and said Shuja has been affiliated to theTaliban for quite some time.

Jamiat-e-Islami party has not commented on the incident.

Meanwhile, a Faryab provincial council member raised concerns over theissue and said that with Shuja joining the Taliban, the security situationin the district would deteriorate.

“We have been in touch with residents and tribal elders in the district forthe past few days and we have reported the matter to other officials. Ifnecessary attention is not paid to Garzewan and Balchergh district, bothwill fall (to the Taliban) and there will be human tragedies,” saidNoorulhaq Mohammadi a provincial council member.

The Taliban meanwhile confirmed Shuja’s move in a statement.