RASC News Agency: Local sources in western Afghanistan report that precious stones from several western provinces are being smuggled into neighboring countries. A local source in Herat province, who wished to remain anonymous, told RASC News Agency on Thursday, May 16th, that smugglers are coordinating with the Taliban to transport precious stones from various areas of the province to Iran and Pakistan.
According to the source, these smuggled stones are of significant value and are transported across the borders. The source noted that the smuggling operations have generated substantial profits for international smugglers and senior Taliban officials in Herat. The source added that the Taliban, as partners in this illegal trade, have thus far shown no interest in addressing the issue.
Another source in Badghis province, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told RASC News Agency that there are areas along the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border in Badghis that contain precious stones. According to this source, smugglers, with the full cooperation and coordination of the Taliban, are confidently transporting these valuable stones out of Afghanistan.
The source emphasized that the Taliban play a significant role in and control all smuggling activities within Afghanistan. The source warned that if the Taliban remain complicit in the smuggling of the country’s precious stones, it will lead to numerous future problems for both the Afghanistani nation and government. Residents of Badghis province in the west have stated that the presence of the Taliban in Afghanistan signifies the existence of numerous mafias across the country.
They claim that all current societal disruptions, both at the lower and higher levels, stem from the presence of the Taliban and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan. These residents noted that the Taliban have not yet gained official recognition and have already subjected the people to numerous challenges. They fear that if the Taliban gain international recognition, they will further oppress the citizens.
Civil activists in western Afghanistan confirm that many tribal elders now consider the Taliban to be the main source of corruption and difficulties in Afghanistan. Karim Rahmani, a civil activist in Farah province, told RASC News Agency that the Taliban are a malevolent force that prioritizes their own interests above all else and offers no solutions for saving the people of Afghanistan.
He stated that all current hardships in Afghanistan result from the lack of effective governance by the country’s rulers. Local Taliban officials in Herat have not yet commented on this matter.
