Kabul - A senior commander fighting with Afghan opposition forces led by Mr Ahmad Shah Masood defected to the ruling Taliban movement on Monday, but the move was not seen as a major setback for Mr Masood.
"My arrival with the Emirate [Taliban] will rally support behind the Taliban in the north of Kabul," said Mr Agha Shireen Salangi. Until recently, he was the overall commander for Mr Masood in the Ghorband front north-west of Kabul. Mr Salangi belongs to the Hezb-i-Islamic faction, some of whose followers have already defected to the Taliban.