Taliban Accuses UN Of Bias, Says Group Deserves Afghanistan’s UN Representation

Residents of Rashk village in Punjab district were ordered to leave their homes after a Taliban court decision awarded land rights to the nomadic group. Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban forces, accompanied by Kuchis, locked 25 homes and expelled their occupants.

The eviction took place on Monday during a visit by the Taliban’s deputy interior minister for security affairs. A delegation comprising male and female Taliban police officers and judicial staff travelled to the village and instructed residents to vacate their properties.

Sources said the delegation entered the village alongside Kuchi tribespeople, forcibly removed residents’ belongings, and padlocked their homes.

Images obtained by Afghanistan International show household items dumped outside and armed Taliban members speaking with locals.

One source said the displaced families are now living in dire conditions, spending nights outdoors and unable to return to their homes.

Another source reported that male members of the affected families had left the village in advance to avoid being coerced into signing documents legitimising the forced eviction.

The land dispute between villagers and the Kuchis dates back to the 1970s. Locals say the case was reopened after the Taliban regained power in 2021, and allege that the Taliban have repeatedly arrested villagers involved in the dispute.

Sources also claim that the legal process was biased, with some court sessions reportedly held without the presence of Rashk villagers. Appeals and complaints submitted by residents were allegedly ignored.

A resident told Afghanistan International that the villagers had been given a 15-day deadline to leave their homes before the eviction was enforced.

The document, issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Labour, outlines available positions, most of which are categorised as non-specialised roles such as dairy workers, domestic helpers, cleaners and cooks. Only two professional positions were listed: electrical engineer and electric vehicle technician.

Several applicants said they attempted to register at designated offices, but overcrowding and a lack of organisation have hindered the process.

“There is a huge crowd, and even for low-skilled jobs, the Taliban are asking for university degrees,” said one Kabul resident.

An applicant in Nangarhar added: “Even to apply as a cook, you must be a university graduate or have experience in a five-star hotel.”

Earlier, the Taliban’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs announced the launch of a registration process for sending Afghan workers to Qatar in 14 technical categories. Officials said candidates could register across more than 20 provinces and regional zones.

However, the Taliban has not released further information regarding the recruitment process, selection criteria or employment conditions.

The registration began on Tuesday, and images shared with Afghanistan International showed hundreds of people gathered at registration centres.

Taliban officials said the country’s primary export goods included dried figs, cotton, raisins, asafoetida, and coal, commodities that together made up roughly 41 percent of total exports.

Pakistan, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Iran were identified as Afghanistan’s five main export markets, accounting for a combined 89 percent of total export volume, the agency reported.

The statistics authority claimed the increase in export activity highlights Afghanistan’s economic potential in the agricultural and mineral sectors.

Despite these figures, international organisations and humanitarian agencies continue to warn of deteriorating living conditions for millions of Afghans.

The United Nations has reported that food insecurity is expected to worsen in 2025 due to prolonged drought, internal displacement and the forced return of Afghan migrants from neighbouring countries.

Humanitarian groups estimate that around 9.5 million people across Afghanistan are facing severe food insecurity, primarily due to reduced agricultural production caused by ongoing drought conditions.

According to a statement from the Taliban court, the woman, convicted of “illicit relations,” also received a one-year prison sentence. Two men in Badakhshan province were reportedly convicted of “sexual relations outside marriage,” while two men in Kabul were found guilty of “same-sex relations.”

The punishments were carried out in Kabul, Badakhshan, and Daikundi provinces, though the statement did not clarify whether the floggings were conducted publicly.

Despite repeated international appeals to halt corporal punishment, the Taliban continues to impose floggings and other forms of physical discipline based on its interpretation of Islamic law.

In May, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that at least 180 individuals had been publicly punished in various cities over a three-month period. The report highlighted the Taliban’s growing reliance on corporal punishment amid an absence of an independent judicial system.

Since then, dozens more have reportedly been sentenced to flogging or imprisonment, raising serious concerns about due process and human rights violations under Taliban rule.

The land is intended for agricultural and commercial development.

The announcement was made during a press conference titled “One-Year Achievements of Emirati Administrations.” Officials did not disclose the specific locations of the allocated land or clarify whether it had previously been under state or private ownership.

The development raises concerns about land rights and transparency, as Afghanistan currently lacks an independent legal body to adjudicate disputes over land ownership. Many citizens have accused the Taliban of forcibly seizing private property and reclassifying it as state or “Emirati” land.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Justice had earlier formed the Commission for the Prevention and Recovery of Usurped Land, ostensibly to reclaim state-owned lands from so-called “usurpers.” Since its inception, the commission claims to have identified 49.7 million acres of land and reclaimed 3.9 million acres.

According to the latest figures, more than 12.7 million acres have now been registered and preserved under the Taliban’s “Emirati” property designation.

Critics argue that the absence of a legitimate judicial process or oversight means that many private landowners have no recourse if their property is confiscated. The Taliban’s consolidation of land under its control comes amid broader efforts to centralise power and build a new economic framework around Taliban-affiliated enterprises.

The General Directorate of Emirati Companies did not indicate when or how the newly allocated land would be developed.