RASC News Agency: Sources from Farah province in western Afghanistan confirm that Taliban members, under the pretext of assisting impoverished families, have resorted to extortion from certain private sectors in the province. A credible source, speaking to RASC News Agency on Friday, Mar 8, on the condition of anonymity, stated that Taliban individuals have approached several private banks in Farah province, demanding that officials of these banks pay certain amounts to specific individuals associated with the Taliban group to aid impoverished families. The source further adds that Taliban members have instructed managers and employees of private sector banks to contribute funds for needy families within a few days to alleviate existing problems.
Similarly, another source in western Afghanistan informed RASC Agency that this is not the first time Taliban members have targeted various entities, especially banks, setting deadlines for the collection of cash aid for the impoverished. The source adds that officials of private banks have responded to Taliban members, stating that the banks have no additional income to assist other members of society. According to the source, the Taliban will use any means necessary to obtain substantial amounts of money from various sectors under multiple pretexts.
Meanwhile, Karim Jalili, a well-informed figure in Farah province, told RASC Agency that people’s assets have been depleted due to the current issues in Afghanistan. He added that the Taliban should not further challenge the current situation for the people and make conditions more difficult day by day. Jalili expresses that if one listens to the hearts of the people, it can truthfully be said that the people are tired and troubled by all the current situations in Afghanistan.
In light of this, Farooq Salimi, a civil society activist in Farah province, told RASC that even during the Republic government, the Taliban collected money from people under the guise of tithing and alms. He asserts that reports from various regions of Afghanistan also indicate that Taliban members continue to collect tithes and alms from the people.
Authorities of the Taliban group in Farah province have not commented on this matter. Farah province in western Afghanistan is considered one of the country’s lucrative provinces, where Taliban security forces occasionally resort to extortion from some national traders and other private sectors.
