Militia leader blacklisted by Iran killed in clashes with Taliban

TEHRAN, Iran

A prominent leader in the Jaish ul-Adl militia was killed in clashes with the Taliban group in Afghanistan, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

According to the agency, Amir Naroui went to Afghanistan for talks with the Taliban on the situation of his militiamen held by the Afghan group when clashes erupted between the two sides.

Naroui was killed in the violence along with a leader of the Taher Shahouzi group and five Taliban militants.

The Jaish ul-Adl (Army of Justice) was founded in 2012 at the hand of Naroui's brother Salahuddin Farooqui, and was listed by both the US and Iran as a terrorist group.

The group has launched several attacks against Iran, particularly in Sistan and Baluchistan province on claims of defending the Sunni minority in Iran.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar