Protesters in northern Afghanistan set fire to gold mining equipment linked to the Taliban after clashes with security forces and company personnel escalated in Takhar province, local sources said.
The violence followed confrontations in the Samti area of Chah Ab district, where residents have opposed what they describe as unregulated gold mining by companies linked to the Taliban. Sources told Afghanistan International that at least three local residents and one Taliban member have been killed so far, while the number of injured has risen to 16.
Local sources said tensions between residents and Taliban-linked companies remain high and that the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Videos obtained by Afghanistan International show large plumes of smoke rising from areas where clashes were reported.
As protests spread and fighting intensified, officials associated with the mining companies fled the area and are now “on the run,” according to local sources. Residents said the number of casualties could continue to rise.
The protests were sparked by concerns over severe environmental damage and water shortages, which residents blame on unchecked excavation activities by the mining companies.
Residents of Chah Ab had already clashed on Friday with Taliban members who entered residential areas to begin gold extraction operations.
According to local sources, the companies involved are linked to Bashar Noorzai, a major drug trafficker and a key financial backer of the Taliban. Residents of Chah Ab say they are protesting the activities of at least three such companies operating in the district.
Taliban authorities have not publicly commented on the latest clashes or the reported casualties.
