ISLAMABAD, Nov 4: Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban claimed that an opposition commander defected to the Islamic militia along with his 40 fighters in the country’s northern Takhar province, the Afghan Islamic Press on Sunday reported. “An important opposition commander, Mohammad Hanif, and 40 of his men with their weapons joined us on Saturday in Ishkamish,” Taliban intelligence chief, Qari Ahmadullah, claimed to AIP.

Iskhamish is a strategic frontline location in Takhar.

Ahmedullah told AIP the commander would now fight the war against the “infidel,” a reference to America whose warplanes are hitting the radical militia for harbouring terrorists.

The US attacks completed four weeks on Sunday, beginning on Oct 7.—dpa