RASC News Agency: Reports emanating from Herat Province in western Afghanistan indicate that the Taliban leadership routinely replaces or dismisses officials within its judicial and legal institutions every two months. A reliable source in Herat Province, speaking on condition of anonymity to RASC News Agency on Friday, Mar 22, stated that the Taliban leadership rotates or removes officials within judicial and legal organs, particularly judges, every two months.
The source elucidated that the primary impetus for this action derives from pervasive corruption within the judicial and prosecutorial apparatus. Numerous reports, the source asserted, have implicated Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan, suggesting that judges in western provinces of Afghanistan, especially in Herat Province, have been complicit in the arrest and sentencing of individuals accused of administrative and moral corruption, while also illicitly amassing significant sums of money. The source disclosed that just a few months ago, an individual from Herat Province paid nearly $10,000 to secure the release of their son from the judicial system, further augmenting their wealth through extortion.
Furthermore, the source added that due to the multifarious corruption within judicial and legal institutions under the Taliban’s dominion in Afghanistan, the level of corruption is tenfold greater than during the republican government, occurring surreptitiously and to the detriment of the populace.
Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmad, a denizen of Herat Province, relayed to RASC News Agency, “If, perchance, the doors of government institutions are opened to the Taliban, then the true extent of the problem with the presence of these individuals in the city will become apparent.” He added that the Taliban seek to inflict harm upon the populace rather than contribute positively to society, intimating that while superficially some Afghanistanis may extol the Taliban’s performance, internally, a substantial segment harbors no fondness for their presence.
Nevertheless, Osman Brati, a civil activist in western Afghanistan, informed RASC that recent discord among Taliban members has precipitated the cessation of many of their activities. He added that presently, all members of the Taliban leadership, ranging from commanders to Mullah Yaqoob, Mullah Kabir, and others, are vying to assume overall leadership of the Taliban, ensuring that only their inner circle retains power and wealth. Brati further noted that numerous key figures within Taliban factions have perished over the past three years, yet owing to restricted access to information and constraints on freedom of expression, significant facets of Taliban realities remain veiled and obscured.
On a divergent note, Farhad Rashidi, a knowledgeable individual in Herat Province, apprised RASC News Agency that the Taliban are singularly focused on their own interests in Afghanistan. He added, “The Taliban are acutely cognizant of their lack of fundamental legitimacy among the populace and international recognition. Their sole endeavor is to cultivate favorable relations with neighboring countries to secure robust sponsorship for the future.”
