#Taliban posted a rare interview with a #Shia- #Hazara Taliban official, Mawlawi Mehdi, "governor" of Balkhab district in northern Sari-Pul province (calling him a Shia from the Hazara Brothers.)
He is the only known Shia Hazara district governor in the Taliban administration. 1/5

There have been very few other #Shias in the Taliban admin, mainly commanders & foot soldiers.
In 2010, I interviewed, Talib Hussain, a Shia-Hazara member of #Afghan Security Forces who joined the #Taliban after attacking #British Forces in #Helmand. 2/5 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10656477

Another #Shia who served as a #Taliban governor was Sayed Gardezi, Wuluswal of Yakawlang in Bamiyan in the Taliban govt (1996-2001).
But comparatively, there are more Sunni Hazaras in the Taliban, some of them on more influential positions (such as Shura & Committee members). 3/5

Taliban accuse #ISIS of trying to turn the war in #Afg into a "sectarian conflict" & use it as a justification to attack ISKP.
Salafi & pro-ISIS activists (who consider Shias as non-Muslims) have a new reason to criticise Taliban (this time for being "sympathetic" to Shias). 4/5

As the dynamics of War & Peace are changing &the #AfghanPeaceProcess is in a critical phase, the #Taliban want to portray an image of inclusivity & pluralism.
It is a message to both Afghans & foreigners that Taliban (a Sunni-Hanafi group) are able to cross "Sunni-Shia split".5/5