RASC News Agency: Local sources in Herat report that the Taliban have once again detained at least 20 individuals, accusing them of inciting unrest in the province’s pistachio forests. On Thursday, July 18, sources informed the media that the Taliban apprehended these individuals in the Kushk Rabat-e-Sangi district of Herat, accusing them of unrest in the forests and breaking or collecting “pistachio hulls.”
The sources added that the Taliban arrested these individuals for allegedly taking matters into their own hands and causing unrest by breaking “pistachio hulls.” The sources also stated that the Taliban burned the confiscated belongings of these individuals. Previously, many people in Herat province were arrested and tortured on similar charges of breaking pistachio hulls.
According to sources, the time for breaking or collecting pistachio hulls is annually announced by the Taliban. Local sources say the Taliban prevent people from entering the pistachio forests, yet their own members freely enter, break, and collect the pistachios. People claim that the Taliban aim to profit from this process and even prevent landowners from accessing their land, while they themselves unlawfully cut down the trees.
This follows an incident two days prior, where the Taliban detained at least 30 residents of Kushk Rabat-e-Sangi district on similar charges of breaking pistachio hulls. These individuals were reportedly tortured and warned that they would no longer be allowed to enter the pistachio forests. It is worth noting that last year in Badghis province, the Taliban beat and arrested several residents on charges of collecting pistachios.
