Mahdi Arsalan

Mahdi Arsalan (), also reported under his birth name Muhammad Sharifov (), was a Tajik militant and commander associated with Jamaat Ansarullah, a Tajik jihadist organization based in Afghanistan.

Biography

According to Tajikistani media, Arsalan was from Nurabad District, in the Districts of Republican Subordination of Tajikistan. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Tajik service reported that he was from the village of Sherbegiyon in Safedchashma jamoat.

Arsalan was associated with Jamaat Ansarullah, an organization designated as terrorist and banned in Tajikistan. Tajikistani reports described him as one of the organization's commanders.

Activities in Afghanistan

Tajikistani media reported that after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Arsalan was given responsibility for several districts in Badakhshan Province, near the Tajikistan–Afghanistan border. These were reported as Kuf, Shekay, Nusay, Maimay and Khwahan.

The reports described Arsalan as a commander of Jamaat Ansarullah operating in northern Afghanistan.

Disappearance

In January 2024, the Tajikistani news agency Asia-Plus reported that Arsalan had disappeared approximately nine months earlier while travelling to Kabul. His whereabouts were reportedly unknown.

As of January 2024, Tajikistani media had not established whether Arsalan was alive or dead.

See also

• Jamaat Ansarullah
• Tajikistan
• Badakhshan Province
• Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan