An Afghan army commander with the special force unit has joined the Taliban, taking a tank and weapons with him, an army official says.
"The commander of Afghan special forces of the national army disappeared three days ago in Shaigal district and we found out today that he has joined the Taliban," the official told German news agency DPA on condition of anonymity.
"He has taken a tank along with some weapons and ammunition," the official said, without identifying the commander.
A spokesman for the Afghan Defence Ministry says a special forces vehicle was set on fire by the Taliban and a lieutenant officer was missing.
Shaigal is a restive district in the eastern province of Kunar on the border with Pakistan's tribal region.
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Taliban sources were not immediately available to comment.
Last month, a former senator joined the insurgents in northern Afghanistan.
