Former Afghan VP Accuses Taliban Of Targeting Turkic Communities

Speaking on the second day of the Antalya Process, Rahimi said the Taliban’s crackdown on press freedom has driven numerous media organisations out of the country. Those that remain operational within Afghanistan, he claimed, are compelled to promote the Taliban’s views and function as propaganda tools.

Rahimi, who previously served as spokesperson for both the High Council for National Reconciliation and the Office of the Chief Executive of Afghanistan, said the Taliban are not only exerting control over domestic media but are also leveraging social media platforms, YouTubers, and selected analysts to manufacture what he described as a “strange atmosphere” in their favour.

He revealed that the Taliban have distributed a list of approved experts to media outlets and have prohibited them from featuring voices outside this list. “Media are not allowed to ignore the list or invite alternative analysts to speak on their programmes,” Rahimi said.

According to him, the Taliban are systematically attempting to construct an idealised image of their governance, projecting the impression that all public needs are being met, while silencing dissent and critical perspectives.

Rahimi added that several media outlets unable to comply with these restrictions have been forced to cease operations within Afghanistan. A few have managed to resume broadcasting or publishing from abroad. He noted that some of these exiled media organisations are affiliated with former political parties or religious groups and seek to present an alternative narrative of the country.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, they have imposed sweeping curbs on press freedom, prompting widespread condemnation from international media watchdogs. Journalists, civil society activists, and independent media have come under increasing pressure, with many fleeing the country to avoid persecution.

The unrest follows growing discontent over the destruction of poppy fields and recent deadly clashes between Taliban forces and local farmers in the Jurm district.

According to sources, protesters have issued a one-week ultimatum to the Taliban to dismiss the governor. The demand has reportedly received backing from some Taliban members native to Badakhshan.

Protesters insist the provincial governor should be selected from among the local population and that non-local Taliban officials should leave the province. The unrest reflects broader frustrations among residents, who accuse the Taliban leadership of disregarding local needs and traditions.

The tensions escalated after Taliban counter-narcotics units clashed with farmers in Jurm district. Local Taliban members are said to have sided with the residents during the confrontation, which forced the enforcement team to withdraw. Several residents were reportedly killed or injured during the clashes.

The Taliban have yet to issue any formal statement on the ongoing protests in Badakhshan.

Previously, community elders had urged local Taliban members to align themselves with the people of the province rather than follow directives from the Taliban’s central leadership. Badakhshan has witnessed repeated unrest in recent years, particularly over poppy eradication campaigns that locals argue threaten their livelihoods in the absence of viable economic alternatives.

According to accounts provided to Afghanistan International, the confrontation also resulted in the deaths of at least four Taliban fighters. Several Taliban vehicles were reportedly set ablaze during the fighting.

Sources stated that Taliban forces surrounded Zaidullah’s residence in Shuhada district, leading to several hours of heavy exchanges of gunfire between the two sides. One source noted that this was not the first attempt by the Taliban to capture the commander, who had recently returned from Iran after a period of exile.

There has been no official confirmation regarding the cause of the clash. However, local sources claim the conflict may have stemmed from a longstanding personal feud between Zaidullah and Amanuddin Mansoor, the Taliban’s corps commander in Kunduz.

A resident of the district alleged that the Taliban justified the operation under the pretext of targeting ISIS elements, though no clear evidence has been presented to support this claim.

As of now, local authorities and official Taliban sources in Badakhshan have not released any formal statements concerning the incident.

According to local Taliban officials, at least 109 musical instruments were collected over the past several months from various celebratory gatherings and subsequently burned. On Monday, officials in Alingar released images showing the public incineration of the items, which included drums (daff), guitars, loudspeakers, and other musical equipment.

Since returning to power in Afghanistan nearly four years ago, the Taliban has banned all forms of music, declaring that it contradicts “the rulings of Islamic Sharia.” The group has regularly carried out raids to confiscate musical instruments and has punished musicians in several provinces.

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue claims that thousands of musical instruments have been destroyed under its directives since the group’s return to power.

According to Hengaw, the individuals were sentenced to death on charges of premeditated murder and drug-related offences. The Afghan citizen, identified as Mobarak Rahmani, was executed on Sunday in Qom Prison. He had been arrested three years ago on charges of murder.

The other executed individuals were named as Zabihollah Sarani, Vahid Karimizadeh, Farhad Farahnak, Alireza Rezaei, and Hessam Farhadi.

As of now, Iranian state media and official sources have not confirmed the executions.

Human rights organisations operating outside Iran have previously documented a rise in the number of Afghan nationals executed in Iran following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. According to these groups, more than 80 Afghan prisoners were executed in Iran over the past year.