RASC News Agency: Reliable sources confirm that Taliban commanders in the western provinces of Afghanistan primarily utilize the vehicles of jihadist leaders and officials of the previous republic for their own purposes, and they even trade some of these vehicles in Pakistan’s black market. A knowledgeable and credible source in the western region of Afghanistan, speaking anonymously to the RASC News Agency on Sunday, Feb 18, stated that senior Taliban figures have put up for sale armored SUVs belonging to some jihadist leaders and officials of the former Ashraf Ghani government, who remained in the western provinces of the country, in Pakistan’s black market at substantial prices to certain Pakistani merchants.
While the source did not directly name anyone, they mentioned that these vehicles belonged to individuals who held high positions in the previous government in the western provinces of Afghanistan. According to the source, the price of these armored SUVs of the Land Cruiser model has exceeded one hundred thousand kabuli rupees. The source further adds that this issue has been reported since the earliest days of the Taliban’s presence in various provinces of Afghanistan. Moreover, other sources confirm that, in addition to the transfer of bulletproof armored vehicles, a large number of army tanks from the previous government have also been transported to Pakistan by senior Taliban commanders.
According to the source, it can be clearly stated that some of the tanks, particularly those of the Al Farouq armored brigade model belonging to the Taliban group in western Afghanistan, have been moved from the provinces bordering Pakistan to various parts of that country, even though some other members of the Taliban are unaware of this matter. The source emphasizes that the transfer of these valuable assets has been carried out at the order of high-ranking individuals in Pakistan, and the Taliban, as before, continue to fulfill their duties.
Nevertheless, some residents of the southwestern provinces of Afghanistan confirm that they have repeatedly seen government vehicles from the previous regime inside large trailers moving along the route through Kandahar province
Gulab Shah, a resident of the southwestern region, told the RASC News Agency that the current situation reflects the Taliban’s arbitrary actions; they do whatever they want, whenever they want. He added that after 20 years of seizing power in Afghanistan, Taliban members are now seeking revenge and facing endless tough days to compensate for those years.
However, Rahim Hakimi, a political affairs analyst in Afghanistan, told the RASC News Agency that one of the Taliban’s main goals has been to fill their empty pockets so they can wield power during this period. He also adds that the Taliban regime has been one-sided and has shown no attention to other segments of society. The transfer of expensive American vehicles from within Afghanistan’s borders to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan, has been a subject repeatedly denied by Taliban spokespersons.
