Taliban Fuel Ethnic Tensions With Forced Displacement, Says Ex-Afghan Commander
A former Afghan army commander has accused the Taliban of driving Afghanistan toward collapse through forced displacement, land seizures and the resettlement of outsiders in the country’s north and west.
General Farid Ahmadi, who once led Afghanistan’s special forces, said the Taliban’s policies have inflamed ethnic hostilities and placed national unity at risk. In a statement marking the anniversary of the Afghan republic’s fall, he said the group had destroyed not only Afghanistan’s political system and two decades of progress, but also the foundations of social cohesion.
Ahmadi accused the Taliban of forcibly expelling communities, confiscating property and transferring outsiders under the guise of “Kuchis,” a practice he said was sowing sectarian divisions. He described the Taliban as “the most irresponsible group in Afghanistan’s history” and warned their current approach could lead the country toward fragmentation.
By monopolising power, dismantling national institutions, excluding political elites and enforcing an extreme interpretation of Islam, Ahmadi argued, the Taliban have lost domestic legitimacy while pushing Afghanistan deeper into international isolation. He said the result has been rising terrorism, poverty, mass migration and the loss of hope among younger generations.
Ahmadi claimed Afghanistan’s economy has remained weak and dependent over the past four years, with soaring unemployment, growing public anger and corruption among Taliban officials. He further accused the group of arbitrary killings, sexual violence, land grabs and expanding narcotics production and trafficking.
He also said Taliban ties with al-Qaida and other militant networks have strengthened, while thousands of extremist schools operate unchecked, indoctrinating Afghan youth.
The only way to save Afghanistan, Ahmadi argued, is through a return to an inclusive political structure, respect for the rights of all ethnic groups and communities, and an end to monopolistic rule. Without such changes, he warned, the country faces renewed and prolonged bloodshed.
