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KABUL: The Afghan Taliban stated on Tuesday that they have quelled protests in a northern province over security forces’ efforts to eradicate opium poppy cultivation, which serves as a vital income source for many impoverished farmers.
According to spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a Whatsapp message, Taliban authorities were conducting meetings in Badakhshan following several days of protests, during which two persons were killed.
Mujahid also mentioned in a separate statement that a delegation from Kabul, led by the defense chief of staff, would travel to Badakhshan this week to investigate the situation, marking a rare official acknowledgment of civil disturbance since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
Since assuming control, the Taliban have pledged to regain authority over the entire war-torn nation and have occasionally dispersed protests in urban areas, particularly those opposing decisions that limit women’s access to education and workplaces.
Mujahid expressed optimism about resolving the issue in Badakhshan, emphasizing that the deaths of two individuals during the clashes would be addressed, with authorities meeting their relatives to decide on compensation.
An international research firm, Alcis, released data based on satellite observations last year indicating a significant reduction in opium production across most provinces between 2022 and 2023. However, it noted an increase in the land area used for poppy cultivation in Badakhshan.
Details regarding the cause of the deaths were not provided by Mujahid. Local broadcaster Tolo reported that the fatalities occurred as protests turned violent, leading security forces to open fire late last week.
Zabihullah Amiri, head of the Taliban-run provincial government’s media department, stated that an official delegation from the provincial capital had traveled to the affected districts to engage in discussions, asserting that the areas were now “under control”.
He mentioned that the legitimate demands of the people were acknowledged and addressed, and currently, there are no issues in the Argo and Darayim districts. The populace in these areas has committed to collaborating with security forces to eliminate poppy cultivation.
The Taliban took control in 2021 following the withdrawal of US and allied troops after a 20-year war initiated in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. In 2022, the Taliban’s supreme spiritual leader ordered a ban on narcotics cultivation in the world’s leading opium producer.
Despite promises from the Taliban to govern in the interest of all Afghans, many Afghan landowners and workers heavily rely on opium poppy cultivation, particularly in the Taliban’s traditional stronghold in the south. Ethnic tensions may arise in Badakhshan, which shares borders with Tajikistan and China, as its population is predominantly ethnically Tajik, contrasting with the predominantly Pashtun ethnic background of most Taliban leaders.
