Handing Over Afghan Researcher To Taliban Endangers Her Life, Warns Iranian Newspaper

Residents of Gizab district stated that the Taliban have warned them to pay the remaining 15 million Afghanis within two months or face forced eviction from the area.

According to the sources, the dispute involves approximately 700 acres of fertile land in the Kandir area of Gizab district. The Hazaras claim ownership of the land dating back to the era of Daoud Khan, a former President of Afghanistan. They assert that they have sufficient documentation to prove their ancestral ownership.

In contrast, Pashtuns and Kuchis contend that the land was entrusted to their ancestors by Mohammad Zahir Shah, with disputes over the territory existing even during the previous Taliban regime. The Hazaras argue that the Pashtuns have no evidence to substantiate their claims.

Sources revealed that after the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, Hazaras in the Kandir and Lower Shiobdon areas of Gizab were forcibly displaced. Following public outcry, the Taliban reportedly allowed the Hazaras to return to their homes but insisted that the land dispute be resolved through either the courts or a council of elders.

A decision document, viewed by Afghanistan International and issued in January last year, stated that the Shia community must pay 30 million Afghanis to the Pashtuns within seven months in exchange for the land.

Residents from Gizab claimed that this decision was imposed under Taliban pressure and called it "unfair”. They explained that they have lived in the area for over four decades and feel the Taliban are now "forcing" them to repurchase their land from the Pashtuns.

The Hazaras expressed their reluctance to pay for their own land but felt compelled to comply due to a lack of alternatives.

On July 31, the Hazaras in Gizab managed to pay 15 million Afghanis to the Pashtuns, stating that they struggled to gather the funds, relying on community support.

Images of the payment were shared with Afghanistan International.

The sources reported that the Taliban have now issued an ultimatum, demanding that the Hazaras pay the remaining 15 million Afghanis by October or face forced eviction from the area.

The Hazaras in Gizab stressed that, despite the difficulty of raising the required funds, they are trying to comply to avoid "forced displacement”.

Since the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan, land disputes between the Taliban and local residents in Hazara-populated and northern regions have intensified.

The Assembly has called on the international community to address this "cultural disaster" with urgency.

In a statement released on Friday, it highlighted that the dissolution of cultural institutions and the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban have inflicted significant mental and psychological distress on cultural figures and artists. The statement emphasised that these measures have led to widespread depression among those affected.

The Assembly expressed deep concern about the dire economic and psychological conditions faced by displaced cultural figures in neighbouring countries. They reported that the systematic eradication of cultural artefacts and extensive restrictions on cultural figures are central to the Taliban's agenda.

The rich cultural heritage of Afghanistan, they warned, is at risk of being obliterated.

The Assembly pointed out that Kucha Kharabat, once a vibrant hub of classical music and ghazal singers in Kabul’s first district, has now become desolate.

The destruction extends to theatre buildings, cinemas, music venues, and art galleries. Additionally, the fine arts departments in universities and the National Institute of Music have been disbanded, and artistic groups have been dissolved.

The Human Rights Defenders Assembly has called for international cultural support institutions and organisations, including UNESCO, to intervene and address the catastrophic cultural situation in Afghanistan. They urged the member countries of the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council to activate "cultural diplomacy" to tackle this cultural crisis.

Since the Taliban's return to power, music has been banned, resulting in thousands of artists and singers losing their livelihoods and being forced to flee the country. Over the past three years, there have been numerous reports of violent encounters between the Taliban and music listeners, with several singers being beaten and musical instruments destroyed. According to the Taliban, music is prohibited under Sharia law.

The Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has issued directives to drivers, advising them to refrain from playing music.

The detainees, identified as Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul, are residents of the Dawlat Shah district in Laghman.

According to these sources, Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul previously served as local police officers under the Ministry of Interior of the former Afghan government.

Following the government's collapse, they fled to Shiraz, Iran, fearing retribution from the Taliban. However, during the recent deportation of Afghan migrants from Iran, they were expelled to Afghanistan.

Local residents reported that upon their return, Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul were placed under house arrest. On Wednesday, July 31, Taliban intelligence forces arrested them from their homes. As of now, the Taliban have not issued any statements regarding the arrests of these two former government employees.

Sources within Dawlat Shah confirmed that Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul are currently being held at the Taliban's intelligence directorate in the capital of Laghman province.

Reports from international human rights organisations indicate that despite the Taliban's declaration of a general amnesty, they have continued to arrest, torture, and kill former Afghan government security forces.

A recent report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday, July 30, documented at least 60 arbitrary detentions, 10 cases of torture and mistreatment, and five killings of former government officials and members of the Afghan security forces between April and June of this year.

UNAMA noted that four of these killings were carried out by unidentified individuals, with one attributed to the Taliban.

At a three-day meeting in Kandahar, Haqqani highlighted that unity had been a key factor in preventing internal issues among the Taliban prior to their recent takeover of Afghanistan.

Haqqani expressed his concern over the emergence of factionalism within the Taliban, which he found more troubling than the loss of life among their members.

He lamented the identification of Taliban factions under various names, including the Haqqani network, and urged for cohesion.

During the meeting, which included 600 senior military and political officials at the 205 Al-Badr Army Corps, Haqqani stated, "We are united as before, under the leadership of one Amir. We did not fight for power. Before the conquest, there were no issues among the Taliban across Afghanistan, and this was due to the blessings of unity and solidarity."

This gathering also saw other senior Taliban figures addressing the attendees. Abdul Haq Wasiq, the Taliban's Intelligence Chief, warned of an ongoing "cold and ideological war" against the group. He dismissed rumours of internal divisions as unfounded, asserting that the primary objective of such rumours was to create a perception of disunity within the Taliban.

Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, cautioned against the labels assigned to Taliban officials by external observers, such as "hardliner”, "moderate”, and "intellectual”. He stressed on the importance of maintaining "unity and obedience”.

Noor Mohammad Saqib, the Taliban's Minister of Guidance, Hajj, and Endowments, praised the Taliban government as an exemplary Islamic system, noting that its success depended on strict obedience to the Amir. He remarked, "There were many movements composed of scholars, but they perished because they lacked obedience."

Additionally, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's Foreign Minister, emphasised on the need for the Taliban army to garner public support. He urged military personnel to avoid actions that might provoke public resentment. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid echoed this sentiment, stating, "The army is the main pillar of a country. The collapse of regimes stems from the collapse of the army." Fasihuddin Fitrat, the Taliban's Chief of Staff, attributed the group's victory to their unwavering belief.

The meeting concluded with Mullah Hibatullah addressing the military and political leaders, as well as the Taliban cabinet members, cautioning that internal disagreements and distrust could lead to the group's downfall.

According to the IOM, approximately one million of these Afghans have sought asylum in European countries, while 85% have migrated to neighbouring nations.

On February 29, 2020, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar. Critics argue that this agreement paved the way for the collapse of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban's subsequent takeover of Kabul.

In a recent report, the IOM highlighted that since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, Afghanistan has experienced significant economic inflation, with over half the population living in poverty.

The report indicates that around 70% of Afghans migrating to Iran cite a lack of job opportunities as their primary reason for leaving. The IOM also noted a substantial number of returnees from Iran, with nearly one million Afghans returning to their homeland in 2023, 70% of whom lacked residency documents.

The IOM stressed that many Afghan citizens, facing challenges in obtaining passports and visas, resort to illegal means of migration, often paying human traffickers to cross borders.

The report emphasises the increased risk of human rights violations for Afghans without travel documents, both at border crossings and in neighbouring countries. The IOM noted that these individuals frequently endure "cruel, inhuman, and degrading" treatment.

In light of these issues, the IOM has called on countries to suspend the deportation of Afghan migrants until conditions for a "safe, dignified, and voluntary" return are established.

This appeal comes as Pakistan and Iran have intensified the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants in recent months. According to data from the Taliban's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, over a thousand Afghan migrants are expelled daily from these two countries.